Kenya’s track sensation Faith Kipyegon will be seeking to get her potential multi-medal campaign at the Paris 2024 Olympics off to the perfect start when she lines up in Heat 1 of the 5000 metre semifinals on Friday evening at the Stade de France (1910 EAT).
The 1500m specialist entered into the 5000m event after triumphing in the Kenyan trials and will be hoping to take the fight to Dutch ace Sifan Hassan and current world record holder Gudaf Tsegay from Ethiopia.
Kipyegon is the second fastest among all the 41 athletes set to participate in the event with her then record-breaking time of 14:05.20 set in Paris back in June bettered only by Tsegay who clocked 14:00.21 to set the new world record.
Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi, who will be making her Olympic debut in Paris, will join Kipyegon in Heat 1 as she seeks to improve on her 2019 World silver medal over the distance.
In Heat 2, two-time world cross-country and 5km champion Beatrice Chebet will also be out to cement her fast-rising status in her first-ever appearance at the Olympic Games.
The Kenyan trio need to finish inside the top 8 in their respective heats to qualify for the finals on Monday 5 August.
Faith Kipyegon
1500m men (1210 EAT)
In the men’s 1500m race, the trio of Timothy Cheruiyot, Reynold Cheruiyot and Brian Komen will be angling for semifinal places when they take part in their heats from 1210EAT.
Debutant Komen is in Heat 1, Timothy, the reigning Olympic Silver medalist, is in heat 2 while former U20 champion Reynold, who is also making his debut, is in heat 3.
The first 6 in each heat will advance to the semis.
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800m women (2045 EAT)
In the 800m category, Mary Moraa will be seeking to get the first steps towards atoning for her Tokyo Olympic disappointment when she lines up for the heats.
Moraa, the reigning World champion, failed to make it to the finals in Tokyo where she got knocked out in the semis.
She will be joined by the promising Lilian Odira who beat her at the Kenyan trials by clocking her first time under 2 minutes.
Vivian Chebet, who finished fifth in the trials but earned her spot after second-place finisher, Sarah Moraa, failed to secure a high enough ranking to qualify, will be the other Kenyan in the heats.
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10000m – First track title decided (2220 EAT)
The first day of in-stadium athletics action will reach a thrilling crescendo with the first track final of the Games: the men’s 10,000m.
Two-time world champion Joshua Cheptegei will be vying for his first Olympic title over the distance, but defending champion Selemon Barega is one of three strong Ethiopians in the line-up, alongside Yomif Kejelcha and Berihu Aregawi.
Cheptegei’s teammate Jacob Kiplimo is also one to watch, as is USA’s Grant Fisher.
Kenya will be represented by debutants Bernard Kibet and Daniel Mateiko as well as Nicholas Kipkorir who will be hoping to improve on his fourth-place finish in Tokyo.
Kenya has struggled in the event with the late Naftali Temu the last athlete to mine gold in the race when he cruised to victory during the Mexico 1968 Games.
4x400m mixed relay – (2010 EAT)
The quartet of David Kapirante, Boniface Mweresa, Mercy Chebet and Veronica Mutua will take part in this event where the first three in the two heats and the two fastest losers will advance to the finals.
ALSO READ: SportPesa launch revolutionary Tujiamini Initiative to nurture talent
Tujiamini is an initiative that seeks to provide a platform, including up to 30M shillings in funding, for individual, team sports and various talent, in a year-long campaign that will go around the country in a move aimed at evoking the sense of pride in Kenya’s sports and talent ecosystem.
Applicants are urged to submit their applications through www.tujiamini.co.ke