Double Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon is one step closer to defending her title in the women’s 1,500 metres after a commanding win in semifinal One at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after clocking  3:58.64 on Thursday night to secure her place in the final.

Meanwhile, Nelly Chepchirchir, who also raced in Semifinal One, fell short of qualification after finishing 11th with a time of 4:03.24.

In Semifinal Two, Susan Ejore earned her spot in the final with a personal best of 3:56.57, finishing fifth. The final, which will take place on Saturday at 9:15 pm, promises to be a thrilling showdown.

Susan Ejore in action (C) Kelly Ayodi for Olympics Kenya

Kipyegon, holding both the world and Olympic records in this event, started the race cautiously, boxed in the middle of the pack. Despite the tight competition, she gradually worked her way out of the inside lane. Chepchirchir, on the other hand, was initially in the lead group, showing potential to qualify.

As the race progressed, Kipyegon moved through the field, overtaking Chepchirchir, American Elle St. Pierre, and Great Britain’s Georgia Bell to claim victory. Chepchirchir, however, struggled to maintain her pace, ultimately finishing second to last.

Georgia Bell secured second place with a time of 3:59.49, while Elle St. Pierre followed closely at 3:59.74. Laura Muir of Great Britain took fourth place with a time of 3:59.83, and Poland’s Klaudia Kazimierska set a personal best of 4:00.21 to finish fifth. Águeda Marqués of Spain claimed the final qualifying spot with a time of 4:01.90.

In the second semifinal, Susan Ejore executed a well-planned race, conserving her energy for the final sprint. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, considered Kipyegon’s main rival for the gold, led for most of the race but faded in the final lap, finishing fourth with a time of 3:56.41, just enough to qualify for the final.

The fastest time of the night came from Tsegay’s compatriot, Diribe Welteji, who won the race in 3:55.10. Australia’s Jessica Hull finished second at 3:55.40, with Nikki Hiltz of the USA taking third in 3:56.17. France’s Agathe Guillemot also secured a place in the final, setting a national record of 3:56.69.