Peruth Chemutai became the first Ugandan woman to win an Olympic medal as she took gold in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase on day 12 of the Tokyo Games.
Kenya’s silver medallist from Rio Hyvin Kiyeng claimed the bronze behind Chemutai.
There was more success for Kenya in the men’s 800m with Emmanuel Korir clinching gold just ahead of his compatriot Ferguson Rotich, who won silver.
Egypt’s Mohamed Ibrahim Elsayed Elsayed won a bronze medal in the 67kg category of the men’s Greco-Roman wrestling but his compatriot Mohamed Moustafa Metwally misses out in the 87kg category.
The 22-year-old Ugandan set a new national record 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.
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 claimed gold and silver in the men’s 800m as Emmanuel Korir finished ahead of world championship bronze medallist Ferguson Rotich in the final.
Korir moved into the lead with 200m left to run while Rotich who looked to be struggling found the speed on the home straight to claim his medal.
Poland’s Patryk Dobek was edged into the bronze medal by Rotich with former Sudanese refugee Peter Bol in fourth place running for Australia.
Botswana’s 2012 Olympic silver medallist Nijel Amos, who was reinstated after falling in his semi-final, finished in eighth out of the nine finalists.
By agencies
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