Uganda’s female runner, Peruth Chemutai, has won the country’s first gold medal in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase on day 12 of the ongoing Tokyo Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Tokyo city, Japan.
The 22-year-old fast paced Ugandan athlete set a new national record today (Wednesday) when she crossed the finishing line first in the women 3000m steeplechase race after posting a time of 9:01:45. as she chased down the USA’s Courtney Frerichs, who won silver at the 2017 World Championships, on the final lap and pulled away to win by 20 metres.
Chemutai’s gold is the third medal for Uganda at the games in Tokyo after Joshua Cheptegei claimed a silver medal while Jacob Kiplimo claimed a bronze medal in the 10,000m final.
By and large, this is Uganda’s first ever Olympic gold medal among the females and the third overall since 1956.
John Akii-Bua won gold in the Steeplechase race during the 1972 games which was followed by marathoner Stephen Kiprotich in 2012.
Kenya’s Hyvin Kiyeng had to settle for the bronze medal to go with the silver she won in the same event at the Rio Games in 2016.
Ethiopia’s Mekides Abebe was fourth with Kenya’s world champion Beatrice Chepkoech only able to finish seventh, after struggling with a hamstring injury. A second Ethiopian Zerfe Wondimagegn was eighth.
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon continued the defence of her Olympic women’s 1,500m title by winning her semi-final ahead of Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu as both athletes advanced to Friday’s final.
Unfortunately Kenya’s Winny Chebet fell in the same race and finished in last place.
In the second semi-final Uganda’s Winnie Nanyondo was fourth to clinch an automatic place in the final but Ethiopia’s Lemlem Hailu and Kenya’s Edina Jebitok failed to progress as they finished down the field.
