Former World Under-20 champion Faith Cherotich clocked a season best time of 8:55.15 to finish third in Paris Games 3000m steeplechase final that also saw Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Mutile Yavi capture gold medal in a new Olympic record at Stade de France on Tuesday.

Cherotich, who turned 20 last month, gave Kenya her fourth medal but her compatriot and world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech finished sixth in 9:04.24 to sum up a below par outing in the French capital.

Mutile blazed down the stretch upstaging defending champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda to add the Olympic gold to her world crown in a new Olympic record of eight minutes, 52.76 seconds (8:52.76).Chemutai settled for silver, posting a national record of 8:53.34 to relinquishe her Tokyo Olympics title.

Earlier on, Kenyans Timothy Cheruiyot and Brian Komen were dwarfed in the 1500m final as American Cole Hocker produced a devastating finish in the home straight to pull off an upset victory.

Tokyo Games silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot placed 11th with African Games champion Komen finishing bottom at 12th as Kenya’s ambitions to end a 16-year title drought over the distance were extinguished.