Kenya’s track sensation Faith Kipyegon moved a step closer to etching her name into the history books as she successfully booked her spot in the women’s 1500-metre finals.
The 1500m double Olympic champion, who is seeking to become the first athlete to win three consecutive gold medals in a row in the event, safely progressed to the ultimate showdown after clocking 3:58.64 to win the race ahead of Great Britain’s Georgia Bell and American ST. Pierre Elle.
Laura Muir (Great Britain), Klaudia Kazimierska (Poland) and Agueda Marques (Spain) also advanced to the next round courtesy of finishing inside the top six spots.
Kenya had another shot at sending a second athlete through to the final from the first semis, but 21-year-old Nelly Chepchirchir, who is making her Olympic debut, finished in eleventh spot to crash out.
In the second semifinal, Kenya got another athlete advancing through as the little-known Susan Ejore managed a fifth-place finish that was enough to book her spot in the finals.
She clocked a personal best of 3:56.57 to ensure her Olympic debut stretched to the finals as her heat was won by Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji who crossed the finish line ahead of Australia’s Jessica Hull and America’s Nikki Hiltz.
Gudaf Tsegay came fourth, Ejore fifth and France’s Agathe Guillemot completing the final spots from the second semi.
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Faith Kipyegon seeking second medal in Paris
Kipyegon is looking to win her second medal in Paris after clinching Silver in the 5000m race.
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