Kenya's hopes of ending a 53-year wait for Olympic gold in the men's 10,000m went up in smoke after Ethiopian Selemon Barega produced a virtuoso performance in the last two laps to clinch gold.
The world 5,000m silver medalist clocked 27:43.22 ahead of world record holder Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo (both of Uganda) who timed 27:43.63 and 27:43.88 in second and third respectively.
National cross country champion Rodgers Kwemoi was the fastest Kenyan, clocking 27:50.06 in seventh.
World under-20 10,000m champion Rhonex Kipruto, who had led the leading pack for the majority of the 25-lap race, withered away to finish ninth in 27:52.78.
Another Kenyan, Weldon Kipkirui, finished 20th in 28:41.42.
The loss means Kenya is still waiting for a first medal at the games, which have so far been a disappointing outing.
Earlier, world 5,000m champion Hellen Obiri, world 10,000m bronze medallist Agnes Tirop and former world cross country bronze medallist Lilian Kasait all qualified for the final from their respective heats.
In Heat 1, Tirop (14:48.01) finished second behind Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan (14:47.79) and ahead of Ethiopian Senbere Teferi (14:48.31) in third.
Kasait finished fifth in 14:50.36 to round up the first five qualifiers.
In Heat 2, Obiri timed 14:55.77 to finish second behind Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay in 14:55.74 and ahead of Italian Nadia Batocletti (14:55.83) in third.
