Paris Olympics: Steeplechasers Faith Cherotich, Beatrice & Jackline Chepkoech to begin historic gold medal hunt on Sunday

Paris Olympics: Steeplechasers Faith Cherotich, Beatrice & Jackline Chepkoech to begin historic gold medal hunt on Sunday

Abigael Wafula 21:00 - 03.08.2024

The women's 3000m steeplechase first round will be happening on Sunday, August 4 with three Kenyans out to showcase their majestic run with the end goal to win Kenya's first gold medal in the event on the Olympic stage.

The women’s 3000m steeplechase campaign at the Paris Olympic Games starts on Sunday, August 4 at 11:05 a.m. East African Time for the first round.

World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, Commonwealth Games champion Jackline Chepkoech and world bronze medallist Faith Cherotich will ve in the starting line with the main goal being to win Kenya’s first gold medal in the event.

The men have been successful in the steeplechase but the coveted medal has eluded Kenyan women for the longest time and Paris would be the chance for them to impress on the globa stage.

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Chepkoech has enjoyed a great season this year starting with the World Indoor Championships where she won a silver medal in the women’s 3000m race. The world 3000m steeplechase silver medallist also won a medal at the title at the African Games.

She has been to a series of Diamond League Meetings and will sure be contesting for a medal at the Paris Olympic Games. Chepkoech finished fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games before finishing seventh at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Meanwhile, Jackline makes her Olympic debut in Paris. She hopes to improve on her dismal performance from the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

The Kenyan finished third at the Kenyan Olympic trials and will hope to repeat the same dominant exploits in Paris. She has struggled to make an impact since her Commonwealth Games title in 2022 and her comeback will certainly cement her place as one of the greatest steeplechasers in the world.

Meanwhile, youngster Cherotich makes her debut on the Olympic stage just at 19. She has been impressive and will definitely be one to watch when the starting gun goes off.

She won the bronze medal at the 2023 World Championships and will look to extend her winning streak to the Olympics. At the Kenyan Olympic trials, Cherotich won the race, sending warning shots to her opponents.

The greatest opposition from the Kenyans will come from Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi. Yavi has given the Kenyan trio a nightmare and denied them a gold medal at the World Championships and the Diamond League Meeting final.

Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai, the defending champion, will also be hunting for her second Olympic medal and will be looking to stop the Kenyan charge.

The women’s race will certainly be nothing short of spectacular when the women step foot on the purple track for the race.