Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet, and Margaret Chelimo have cruised smoothly to the women's 5000m final at the Paris Olympics.
The trio of Faith Kipyegon, Beatrice Chebet and Margaret Chelimo now have a chance to rewrite history after making the final of the women’s 5000m at the Paris Olympic Games.
Kipyegon and Chelimo were competing in round one of the heats while Chebet was running in the second round.
Passing the 1000m mark, Dutch woman was leading the strong pack of women comprising former world record holder Faith Kipyegon, the current world record holder Gudaf Tsegay and Margaret Chelimo.
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Defending champion Hassan was still leading the pack in round one with Kipyegon running in seventh-place, slightly behind Tsegay. Passing the 3000m mark, the athletes had maintained their positions, Hassan still doing most of the work of controlling the pace.
With the finish line in sight, Kipyegon surged to the front, outsmarting her rivals as she claimed the win dominantly to qualify for the final.
She clocked a stunning 14:57.56 ahead of Hassan who clocked 14:57.65 with Italian Nadia Battocletti completing the podium in an impressive 14:57.65.
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Chelimo, Tsegay and Ejgayehu Taye finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively, to also punch their tickets to the final. The American duo of Elise Cranny and Karissa Schweizer completed the list of qualified athletes in round one.
Meanwhile, Beatrice Chebet was Kenya’s sole representative in round two. Passing the 1000m mark, Chebet was running was behind, as she slowly made her way up to the front. Ireland’s Jodie McCan was leading the pack.
Passing the 2000m mark, Chebet had taken charge before she started running in second place passing the 5000m mark.
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The reigning world 10,000m record holder passing the 4000m mark was running in second place before she unleashed her magical finishing kick to claim the win dominantly in 15:00.73. Her closest challenger, Medina Eisa finished second in 15:00.82. Rose David of Australia completed the podium in an impressive second in 15:00:86 with Norway’s Bjerkeli Grovdal finishing fourth.
Francine Niyomukunzi followed by, finishing fifth to earn a slot in the final alongside Whittni Morgan, Nathalia Blomqvist and Daniely Brea who also made the cut.