Obiri bags marathon bronze on final day of Paris Olympics

Two-time 5,000m Olympic silver medallist Hellen Obiri secured Kenya a bronze medal in the women’s marathon, clocking 2:23:10 on the final day of the Paris Olympic Games.

Obiri trailed Netherland’s Sifan Hassan (2:22:55) and Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa (2:22:58).

Compatriot Sharon Lokedi placed fourth in a time of 2:23:14 with Tokyo 2020 champion Peres Jepchirchir finishing in position 15 with a time of 2:26:51.

A day earlier, Benson Kipruto clinched bronze in the men’s marathon, finishing in 2:07:00. Ethiopia’s Tamirat Tola took gold with an Olympic record time of 2:06:26 while Belgium’s Bashir Abdi claimed silver in 2:06:47.

Obiri’s bronze lifts Kenya’s medal tally to 11 (four gold, two silver and five bronze), securing 17th place overall and ranking as the most successful African country at the Paris Olympics.