Tokyo Olympic Games: ‘Track & Field’

(4) Monday, August 2 –

. Valarie Allman of the USA wins gold in the women’s discus

Allman’s opening round throw of 68.98m in this rain-affected competition was enough in becoming Olympic champion in the women’s discus event.

Kristin Pudenz (GER) wins silver and Yaime Pérez (CUB) takes the bronze.

*– Valarie Allman of the United States is the new Olympic champion in the women’s discus*

. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands unleashed her sizzling pace in the final lap to win the women’s 5,000 metres gold medal

The Ethiopian-born middle-distance runner has confirmed that she will add the 1,500 metres event to her 5,000m and 10,000m runs at Tokyo’s Olympic Stadium. The 28-year-old Hassan is the reigning world champion in the 1,500 and 10,000.

She bided her time until the final lap and then showed the same pace of a 1,500m runner to speed away from the leading pack and take victory in 14:36.79.

Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, a double world champion and Olympic silver medallist five years ago in Rio, had to be satisfied with another silver as she finished in 14:38.36.

Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay went into the race as the world leader with her personal best 14:13.32 that she clocked to win the Ethiopian trials in June.

She could only stay close to Obiri as Hassan sped away, however, and ended with the bronze medal.

*– Sian Hassan of Holland celebrates after securing gold in the women’s 5,000 metres*

*– Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, a double world champion, took the silver medal ahead of Gudaf Tsegay*

. El Bakkali of Morocco wins gold in the Olympic men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase

Soufiane El Bakkali of Morocco won gold in the Olympic men’s 3,000 metres steeplechase, breaking Kenya’s stranglehold on an event they had won nine times in a row.

The 25-year-old El Bakkali, fourth in the 2016 Olympics and bronze medallist in the 2019 world championships, finished in a time of 8:08.90.

Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia claimed silver, clocking 8:10.38, and Benjamin Kigen of Kenya took the bronze in 8:11.45.

Conseslus Kipruto of Kenya, the 2016 Olympic champion, failed to qualify for the Games, reducing the East African nation’s chance of winning a 10th straight Olympic steeplechase gold since 1984.