Faith Chepngetich eyes 1,500m Olympics victory
What you need to know:
- Kenya's hopes for a gold medal in the event will solely lie on the reigning Commonwealth champion after teammate Violah Lagat was eliminated in the semis early on Monday morning.
- Unlike during the heats where she got herself boxed on the inside lane, Lagat chose to run from the front and was in the lead until the final 200m when she failed to keep up the tempo as Dibaba took control of the race and never looked back.
IN RIO DE JANEIRO
Faith Chepngetich has promised Kenyans something special when she competes in the final of women's 1,500m at the Olympics.
Kenya's hopes for a gold medal in the event will solely lie on the reigning Commonwealth champion after teammate Violah Lagat was eliminated in the semis early on Monday morning.
Regardless, Chepngetich, who qualified comfortably, is keeping the faith and has now vowed not to let Kenyans down.
"The race was good and I thank God that I' am through to the final. I expect it to be a tough contest but I want to assure Kenyans that I will give them something special," she told Kenyan journalist in Rio de Janeiro.
Chepngetich qualified out rightly by winning the first of the two semi finals heats in a time of 4:03.95 while Lagat only managed sixth place in 4:06.83 which was not fast enough to secure her a qualification.
Lagat, who had also struggled to reach the semis and barely made it by virtue of being among the fastest finishers during the heats, got off well but lost out in the final stages of her semi final heat which was won by world record holder, Genzebe Dibaba, of Ethiopia.
Unlike during the heats where she got herself boxed on the inside lane, Lagat chose to run from the front and was in the lead until the final 200m when she failed to keep up the tempo as Dibaba took control of the race and never looked back.
The Ethiopian shrugged off a spirited challenge from Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands in the final 100m for a winning time of 4:03.06 with the Dutchwoman finishing in 4:03.62.
"The race wasn't bad and I ran as I had planned apart from the final 200m where I kind of fell behind," Lagat said immediately after the race.
The third member of the Kenyan team, Nancy Chepkweimoi, bowed at the heats on Friday night.
It will therefore be upon Chepngetich to try and win an event that Kenya has won only once at the Olympics.
Only the top five finishers in each of the two semi finals, along with the next two fastest finishers advanced to the final which is set for Wednesday morning at 4:30am (Kenyan time).
