Pain in Paris as Kenya’s 10,000m Title Wait Continues

Kenya’s long-standing quest to reclaim the 10,000m Olympic title ended in disappointment on Friday as the trio of Bernard Kibet, Daniel Mateiko, and Nicholas Kimeli failed to secure a podium finish in the final at the Paris 2024 Olympics. The country’s last and only victory in this event remains Naftali Temu’s historic win at the 1968 Mexico City Games.

In a gripping race that saw fierce competition from neighboring Uganda and Ethiopia, it was Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei who emerged victorious, clinching his first Olympic gold in the 10,000m. Cheptegei, a three-time world champion and world record holder, crossed the finish line with an Olympic record time of 26 minutes and 43.14 seconds, solidifying his dominance in the event. This victory marks a significant milestone for Uganda, as it is their first-ever gold medal in the 10,000m.

Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi claimed the silver medal, narrowly edging out American Grant Fisher by just two-hundredths of a second, finishing with a time of 26:43.44. Fisher’s bronze medal added to the growing competitiveness of the 10,000m race, highlighting the depth of talent in the field.

Among the Kenyan contingent, Japan-based Bernard Kibet delivered the best performance, finishing in fifth place. The 25-year-old Kibet was in the leading pack until the final lap when Cheptegei, Aregawi, and Fisher broke away to contest the medals. Reflecting on the race, Kibet acknowledged the high pace and the challenges faced by the Kenyan athletes.

“The race was very tough and the pace was very high. Despite the loss, I will pick many lessons that will help me plan my comeback,” Kibet stated. “Our biggest weakness is speed. We’re lacking the final kick, especially in the last lap, something which our opponents like Cheptegei have perfected. He remained calm and composed throughout the race, and even I thought he had given up only for him to surge in the last two laps. That was very tactical and not many can run that way.”

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Kibet, who made his Olympic debut in Paris, emphasized the need to work on his speed and weight management as he prepares for next year’s World Championships. This is the second consecutive Olympics where Kenya has missed the podium in the 10,000m, following Rhonex Kipruto’s eighth-place finish in Tokyo 2021.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s hopes in the women’s 800m event remain alive as Mary Moraa and Lilian Odira advanced to the semifinals. Moraa, the reigning world champion, clocked 1:57.95 to finish second in heat 5 behind Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma. Odira, making her Olympic debut, secured her spot in the semifinals by finishing third in heat 6.

“In Tokyo, I reached the semifinals, and since then I’ve learned a lot. I was very keen to get it right in round 1. We’ve strong opponents, but I know we can get a medal this year. It is doable,” Moraa expressed confidently.

Vivian Chebet, the other Kenyan representative, will have another chance to progress to the semifinals through the repechage round after finishing fourth in her heat. Moraa and Odira remain optimistic about their chances and are determined to reclaim the 800m title that Kenya last won in 2008.

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As the Kenyan athletes continue their campaign in Paris, the nation’s hopes rest on their ability to overcome past shortcomings and deliver standout performances on the world stage.