Track events where Kenya is most-likely to win medals at Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Track events where Kenya is most-likely to win medals at Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Abigael Wafula 12:50 - 29.06.2024

This article is a breakdown of Pulse Sports' prediction of the track events where Kenya is most likely to win medals.

The Paris 2024 Olympic Games are fast approaching and all eyes will be on the defending champions, upcoming athletes among others to impress on the global stage.

Team Kenya has plans to showcase their prowess and impress one more time after dominating distance races in the previous edition. This time around, a new crop of athletes has been selected to represent the country, with Faith Kipyegon, Eliud Kipchoge and Peres Jepchirchir looking to reclaim their titles.

Kenyans will be hoping to win a medal in at least each of the events where athletes will be competing starting from the men’s 100m and here is a prediction by Pulse Sports on the events where medals are most likely to be won.

1) Men’s 100m

After setting a world-leading time of 9.79 at the Kenyan Olympic trials, Ferdinand Omanyala sent a message to the world and his rivals, and as he heads to the Olympics, he will be out to finish in the podium bracket.

Africa’s fastest man will be up against the likes of Noah Lyles, Kenny Bednarek, and Oblique Seville and will be looking to silence them once he steps foot on the track.

2) Men’s 800m

The men’s 800m has evolved in the recent past having strong athletes from Kenya including Emmanuel Wanyonyi, who has been impressive in this season. There is no doubt that Wanyonyi, the world 800m silver medallist will perform well at the Olympic Games and claim a medal for Kenya.

At the Kenyan trials, he ran the fastest time in the world since David Rudisha’s retirement, clocking a world-leading and Personal best time of 1:41.27 to cross the finish line. The time the 19-year-old clocked is also the third fastest in the world behind Rudisha’s world record time of 1:40.91 and his second-best time of 1:41.54.

3) Women’s 800m

World 800m champion Mary Moraa will be hoping to immerse her name in the annals of history as she heads to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. With Athing Mu, one of her rivals, out, she now gets closer to making history at the event.

Her greatest opponent will be Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson, who silenced her at the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Meeting in Eugene, Oregon. However, Kenyans can bank on Moraa to deliver a medal. Lilian Odira has also shown great improvement in her run and will be keen on achieving a podium finish at the event.

4) Men’s 1500m

With Timothy Cheruiyot’s return from injury, Kenyans have high hopes that the Olympic silver medallist will be the one to watch at the event.

However, Reynold Cheruiyot is also in the mix and having won the National Olympic trials, he has hopes to extend the hot streak to Paris. The men’s 1500m will certainly not leave Kenyans empty handed.

5) Women’s 1500m

Defending champion Kipyegon will be back to finish what she started, hoping to win her third successive title. She will enjoy the company of Nelly Chepchirchir and US-based Susan Ejore.

The duo will also be keen on achieving a podium at the event but there is no doubt that Kenya will win a medal, in this case, gold at the Olympic Games.

6) Men’s 5000m

The men’s 5000m will also guarantee Kenya a medal, having Jacob Krop, the world 5000m bronze medallist, Ronald Kwemoi and Edwin Kurgat.

Krop, Kwemoi and Kurgat looked comfortable taking the top three slots at the Kenyan Olympic trials and have the hopes of maintaining that, heading to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

7) Women’s 5000m

Kenya will be in a position to take the top two slots of the event with the presence of Kipyegon and world 10,000m record holder Beatrice Chebet.

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The duo always gets the job done when it comes to major assignments and the Olympic Games will not be an exception at the event.

8) Men’s 10,000m

Daniel Mateiko was the surprise winner at the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Meeting in Eugene, and he will be looking to maintain the winning streak in his debut to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. However, Bernard Kibet also showcased a relentless fighting spirit and has hope to maintain that at the Olympic Games.

9) Women’s 10,000m

Chebet, Lilian Kasait and Margaret Chelimo took the top three slots at the World Cross Country Championships in Belgrade, Serbia and they have a chance to repeat the same performance in Paris.

The trio is in good shape and they showcased class at the Kenyan Olympic trials. They hope to maintain the same form and even do much better at the Olympics. With their presence in the women’s 10,000m, Kenya will surely win a medal.

10) Men’s 3000m Steeplechase

The men’s race will also see Kenyans fight for a podium place, with all the three athletes, Abraham Kibiwott, Amos Serem and Simon Kiprop Koech looking formidable for top honours.

The gold medal might prove to be challenge with the presence of Soufiane El Bakkali, the defending champion, but the silver and bronze medals will be up for grabs for the Kenyans. Kibiwott won a bronze at last year’s World Championships and he will be looking to improve on that in Paris.

11) Women’s 3000m Steeplechase

The women’s steeplechase will also promise to be a thrilling show as the Kenyan trio of Beatrice Chepkoech, Jackline Chepkoech and Faith Cherotich all going to the event.

Last year at the World Championships, the duo of Cherotich and Beatrice took bronze and silver respectively and they hope to replicate that or even do much better at the Olympic Games.