•Kiyeng clocked 9:05.39 to finish third behind winner Peruth Chemutai of Uganda (9:01.45) and second-placed American Courtney Frerichs (9:04.79)
•She said a slight hamstring injury had held her back from giving her best performance
•Similarly, world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech blamed multiple injury woes for her seventh-place finish
Despite subpar performances by Team Kenya at the ongoing Tokyo Olympics, bronze medalist in the women's 3000m steeplechase Hyvin Kiyeng has asked the country to get behind them.
The 2016 Olympic silver medalist said the team need all Kenyans' support at this difficult time now more than ever.
"Let us appreciate what we have achieved so far. Up until now, we have given our best; I urge them to continue supporting us and not say things that may demoralise those who are yet to compete," Kiyeng said.
She added that better fortunes lie ahead for the team and it will be sooner, rather than later, before the entire country will be smiling again.
"Let us not lose hope because soon we will be back to putting in the kind of performances associated with us. It's just that things sometimes don't work out the way you plan them," she said.
Kiyeng clocked 9:05.39 to finish third behind winner Peruth Chemutai of Uganda (9:01.45) and second-placed American Courtney Frerichs (9:04.79).
She said a slight hamstring injury had held her back from giving her best performance.
"I am grateful for the bronze medal because that means we have not left empty handed. I started feeling my hamstring during the heats and today whenever I tried to up the tempo, I would feel it coming back. It is a problem I've had for a long time but it kind of disappeared during the last two Diamond League races before reappearing during the heats. So then I couldn't push as much to match the others," Kiyeng said.
Regardless, Kiyeng says she is thankful the country did not end up empty handed from the race.
World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech — who was one of the frontrunners going into Tokyo — finished a disappointing seventh after clocking 9:16.33.
She also blamed injury woes for the outcome but vowed to come back stronger.
"I was struggling with an injury to the tendon and also to the lower back. There was also a slight discomfort in the stomach. Otherwise, I was motivated and raring to go. Either way, I will now go back to recover and then come back stronger for training," the world champion said.
The result means Kenya is still waiting for her first Olympic gold in the women's steeplechase since the introduction of the race at the quadrennial games in 2008.
It also extended what has been, by Kenyan standards, a poor performance by Team Kenya at the Tokyo Olympics.