PARIS, Aug 10 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Kenyan world record holder Beatrice Chebet held off a late challenge from Italy's Nadia Battocletti to claim gold in the women’s 10,000m at the Paris Olympics on Friday.
Chebet, who became the first woman to break the 29-minute barrier in May, finished with a time of 30 minutes and 43.25 seconds, just a tenth of a second ahead of Battocletti, Xinhua reported.
The Netherlands' Sifan Hassan took bronze in 30:44.12.
"I am so happy because this wasn't easy," Chebet said. "I just believed in myself and I wanted to do it for my country."
It marked Chebet's second gold medal of the Paris Olympics, who also clinched the 5,000m title.
She said part of the battle was trying to avoid thoughts of her earlier triumph.
"I knew I had to forget about the fact that I got a gold in the 5000m," she said. "I just had to focus on this event. My country was watching me, and I had to remember what my target was."
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