Ayana still the favourite as Cheruiyot, Cherono, Obiri storm 5000m final

IN RIO DE JANEIRO

When Vivian Cheruiyot claimed her third Olympic medal, a silver, after finishing second to world record breaking Almaz Ayana on Friday evening in the women's 10,000m, she was still left chasing her first gold medal at the Olympics.

The silver medal in Rio came after a bronze over the same distance and a 5000m silver four years ago in London, making her the first woman to win three medals for Kenya at the Olympic Games.

Yet, her disappointment after failing to clinch a much-desired gold medal was clear for all to see.

She snubbed the probing journalists at the mixed zone while at the mandatory winners’ press conference, she was very economical with her words.

"One day, one time, I know that I'm going to be an Olympic champion," she said.

That opportunity has come rather too soon, and against the same rival who broke her heart five days ago here in Rio after Cheruiyot and Ayana both booked their places in the women’s 5,000m final on Tuesday.

But in their second meeting in less than a week during Tuesday's second qualifying heat, Ayana showed no signs of tiring and made another strong statement by easily winning the heat in of 15:04.35 as Cheruiyot came in third in a time of 15:17.74 behind another Ethiopian Senbere Teferi who was timed at 15:17.43

Other than being a renewal of the Ayana-Cheruiyot rivalry, Saturday’s final (4:40am, Kenyan time), just like the 10,000m race, could be reduced into a Kenya-Ethiopia affair after each of the two East African nations landed three runners in the final.

Vivian will yet again lead a Kenyan trio that includes Hellen Obiri and Mercy Cherono while Ayana will front the Ethiopian challenge with some assistance from Ababel Yashaneh and Teferi.

Obiri and Cherono advanced from the first semi-final heat by finishing first and third in respective times of 15:19.36 and 15:19.56. Yasemin Can of Turkey came through in second place after clocking 15:19.50.

"I expect a fast race in the final. Of course our main rival is Ayana. But we will bid our time and see how she approaches the race. If she makes a quick move we will definitely have to respond," Obiri said.

Cherono however said the high temperatures and the fast pace set by the early leader, Miyuki Uehare of Japan, sapped a lot of energy from her.

"The temperatures were a bit high today but I believe we have a chance in the final," she said.