Faith Kipyegon, Moraa arrive in Paris for Olympic games

With just a day to the start of the track and field events at the ongoing Paris Olympic games, the Kenyan team of athletes to participate in the games has arrived in the country.

The events are set to officially begin August 1-11.

The team led by three-time Olympic gold medalist and captain Faith Kipyegon arrived Tuesday morning before departing to the Olympic village where they are residing.

She was accompanied by Mary Moraa, Timothy Cheruiyot, Brian Komen, Beatrice Chebet, Bernard Kibet and Lilian Odira.

Others are Vivian Chebet, Reynold Cheruiyot, Margaret Chelimo, Daniel Mateiko and Nicholas Kimeli.

There are 48 events consisting of 23 each for men and women as well as two mixed events-4x400m relay and 35km mixed team race walk.

It will be held at the Stade de France in Paris.

Three venues have been set for road events which are Hotel de Ville and Led Invalides for the start and finish of the marathon races and Pont d’lena for race walks.

Kipyegon will be seeking to secure her third successive Olympic gold in the women’s 5,000m final on August 5.

She will participate in the 1,500m round one on August 6.

It should not be lost that no African athlete has ever won gold in the same event three times in a row.

Marathoner Eliud Kipchoge will also be preparing for a major showdown with Kenenisa Bekele.

Men’s 10,000m final is set for Friday.

Daniel Mateiko, Bernard Kibet and Nicholas Kimeli will be out to reclaim the title last won by John Ngugi during the 1998 Seoul Olympics when they meet Jacob Kiplimo and Joshua Cheptegei from Uganda.

Cheruiyot will feature during the men’s 1,500m semi-finals on August 4.

Moraa on her part will be in action on August 2 for the 800m round one.

A day after losing to Brazil, Malkia strikers will be hoping to register their first win when they face Poland on Wednesday.