Faith Kipyegon/ FILEKenya’s Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon were more focused on the final on Saturday despite dominating the women’s 5,000m semi-final in the ongoing World Athletics Championships here in Tokyo, Japan.
Kenya's trio of Beatrice Chebet, Faith Kipyegon and Agnes Ng'etich all punched their tickets to the women's 5,000m final set for Saturday.
Chebet won the semi-final heat one, stopping the clock in 14:45.59 ahead of Italy's Nadia Battocletti (14:46.36) and American Sheldby Houlihan (14:46.52).
The other Kenyan in that heat, Margaret Akidor, failed to make it inside the automatic eight qualifying slots after finishing 14th (15:10.91).
In the second heat, Kipyegon placed second in 14:56.71 behind Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay (14:56.46). Ng'etich just made it within the eight automatic slots, placing eighth in 14:57.90.
In an interview, Chebet said there was no pressure in the race but just to qualify for the final. She admitted that the final is not going to be easy, considering the calibre of runners who will be competing.
“We know the final is on Saturday and we are ready for it,” he said. She, however, noted that the motivation is that they have already won medals in the other events and are looking for something extra in the 5,000m.
“We have already posted good results in other events, and we will equally give the event our best,” she said.
She was even happier that the Kenyan girls are performing wonders and have already won medals for the country.
“We are proud of ourselves and we can only hope to end the event on a high,” she added.
Kipyegon, on her part, indicated that they will fight and plan as a team. We have a strong team, and few can only keep their fingers crossed.
She said Chebet was a good friend and they would do what they had to do to bring home the medals.
Ngétich said she was happy to be in the final as that is what matters most. “Unfortunately, one of us, Akidor, will not be in the final, and I am sorry for her,” she said, adding, “I know the final will be tough, but we will fight for medals. Having three athletes in the final is cool and we hope to capitalise on the numbers and execute the race well.
Akidor said she pulled a hamstring injury and could not push in the last lap.
