The battle for the Olympics 3,000 metres steeplechase gold started early Friday with the two Kenyan representatives Abraham Kibiwott and Benjamin Kigen sailing through to final.
Leonard Bett, winner of the Kenyan trials for the Tokyo Olympics in 8:17.26, finished fifth in Heat 3 which was won by Morocco’s Sofioune El Bakkali while Kibiwot easily won Heat 2 in 8:12.24 ahead of Ethiopia’s Getnet Wale.
Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwot reacts after winning in the men’s 3000m steeplechase heats during the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo on July 30, 2021.
Bett failure to qualify for the final was a huge shock.
With Olympics champion Conseslus Kipruto out of the Games with injury, the duo has the herculean task of ensuring the gold medal, which Kenya has won in each Olympics contests since the 1984 Los Angeles Games, remains safely in the country.
Ethiopia’s World silver medallist Lamecha Girma, who is one of the favourites for the gold, also qualified for the final here at the National Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.
Girma won Heat 1 in 8.09.82, Japan’s Ryuji Miura was second while Kigen settled third to complete the automatic qualifying places. BY DAILY NATION