Ethiopia’s Tokyo bronze medalist Gudaf Tsegay has qualified for the final of 5000m at the Stade de France, keeping her Olympic gold pursuit on track. Gudaf, who is bidding for medals in both the 5000m and 1500m, finished fifth in 14:57.84. The hunt for medals intensifies this Friday evening as track and field events begin in Paris. The double world record holder Kenyan athlete, Faith Kipyegon finished first in 14:57. 56 and Ethiopian-born Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan finished second, while Italy’s Nadia Battocletti was third.

Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye qualified for the 5000m final, finishing 6th in the first heat with a time of 14:57.97. Another Ethiopian, Eisa Medina, also advanced by finishing second in the second heat with a time of 15:00.82, while Kenyan Beatrice Chebet won the heat with 15:00.73.

Gudaf is bidding for medals in both the 5000m and 1500m, a first for her. She won the women’s 5000 meters at the World Championships in Oregon in July 2022 and the women’s 10,000 meters at the World Championships in Budapest in August 2023. She then smashed the women’s 5000 meters world record with a run of 14 minutes 00.21 seconds at the Eugene Diamond League finale in September 2023. The four-time world champion and two-time Olympic gold medalist from Kenya, 30-year-old Faith Kipyegon, will be a significant challenge for Gudaf.

The final of the women’s 5000m is set for Monday, August 5. Ethiopian athletes Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar won the 5000m at the 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Games, respectively.