Women’s Steeplechase Olympic defending champion Peruth Chemutai remained on course to rewrite history after securing a place in the final.
Competing in Heat 1 of Round One at the Stade De France, the Ugandan led from start to finish in 9:10.51, the best time recorded across the three heats.
From her heat, she was joined into the final by Kenya’s Faith Cherotich, Germany’s Gesa Felicitas, American Courtney Wayment and Ethiopia’s Lomi Muleta.
Only the top five in each of the three heats qualified for Tuesday evening’s final.
It should be remembered that Uganda paint manufacturing giants Kansai Plascon through their “Twaake” (meaning “go and shine”) campaign, gave the Ugandan contingent of 25 athletes a financial boost ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
In the final, Chemutai will be looking to become the first-ever Ugandan athlete to win back-to-back gold in the same event at the Olympics.
Of the finalists, only Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya and Winfred Mutile Yavi of Bahrain have run a better lifetime best than Chemutai who is in fine form.
Courtesy Photos
