Beatrice Chebet’s secured her status as one of the stars of the Paris Games by completing a golden distance running double. The Kenyan won the 5000m earlier in the programme and on Friday the 24-year-old won the 10,000m in 30:43.25.
Chebet, who set a world record of 28:54.14 earlier this summer, had to work hard during a 57-second last lap, though, to hold off an inspired challenge from Nadia Battocletti, who finished just one tenth of a second behind in an Italian record.
In third, reigning champion Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands took bronze in 30:44.12 followed by Kenyans Margaret Kipkemboi and Lilian Rengeruk.
For Chebet, she was delighted to become the first Kenyan to win this title, whereas Battocletti told AW this Olympic silver was more special and satisfying than the 5000m and 10,000m gold medals she won on home soil at the European Championships in Rome in June.
Despite being in the mix with a lap to go and renowned for their finishing speed, Ethiopians Gudaf Tsegay, Fotyen Tesfay and Tsigie Gebreselama finished sixth, seventh and 10th respectively. It was a dismal performance for a nation that has won five of the 10 Olympic titles since this event was first introduced into the programme in 1988.
Source: AW
