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Youngster Faith Cherotich saved Kenya's blushes in the women's steeplechase when she claimed a bronze medal in a race won by Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi.
Faith Cherotich won Kenya its second bronze medal at the Paris Olympics after finishing third in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase as Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Mutile Yavi claimed gold.
In a race that had world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, world champion Yavi and defending champion Peruth Chemutai, it is Chepkoech who looked to be coasting to a medal among the Kenyans.
The 2019 world champion took the lead after two laps and stretched the field as Chemutai and Yavi stayed close.
Cherotich meanwhile seemed unbothered by the ensuing battle but when it mattered most, Chepkoech ran out of gas.
It was a battle between Ugandan Chemutai and Yavi with the former looking on her way to defending her title before the later summoned a devastating kick to overtake her just before the finish line.
Yavi would complete the set of world and Olympics title after winning the race in a new Olympics record of 8:52.76 as Chemutai settled for silver in 8:53.34.
Meanwhile, Cherotich was left to pick up whatever was left, and with Chepkoech badly beaten, she surged ahead of the rest for third place in a personal best time of 8:55.15.
Chepkoech could only finish sixth in 9:04.24 in what was another poor outing at the Olympics.
The world record holder has now finished fourth, seventh and sixth at the Olympics and at 33, the Los Angeles Games in 2028 might be a stretch for her to achieve the elusive dream.
For Cherotich, it is back-to-back bronze after claiming the same medal at the 2023 World Championships and the 20-year-old appears to be Kenya’s hope over the distance.
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