Chepkoech shatters 3,000m steeplechase World Record

Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech competes in the women's 1,500 metres at the Glasgow Indoor Grand Prix athletics competition at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on February 25, 2018. She has broken the women 3,000m Steeplechase World Record. PHOTO | ANDY BUCHANAN | AFP

By  AYUMBA AYODI

What you need to know:

  • The time also broke the national record time of 8:58.78 held by Cellphine Chespol set last year at Prefontaine Classic.
  • Chepkoech hit 2,000m in 5:49.9 before coming to the bell in 7:37.5 to smash Jebet's record by massive eight seconds.

Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech is the new women's World 3,000m steeplechase record holder.

Chepkoech staged a bristling and elegant solo run to set the new World Record clocking 8 minutes and 44.32 minutes to win the race in Monaco on Friday night.

The feat by Chepkoech, the Commonwealth 1500m silver medallist, was enough to erase the previous record of 8:52.78 set on August 27, 2016 in Paris by Kenyan born Ruth Jebet of Bahrain.

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The time also broke the national record time of 8:58.78 held by Cellphine Chespol set last year at Prefontaine Classic.

COMMITTED

Chepkoech took the lead from pacesetter Caroline Tuigong at 1,000m in 2:55.4 before swinging into World Record time at the 1,800m mark in 5:14.5.

Chepkoech hit 2,000m in 5:49.9 before coming to the bell in 7:37.5 to smash Jebet's record by massive eight seconds.

Chepkoech beat American Courtney Frerichs with a national record time of 9:00.85 as former World champion Hyvin Kiyeng came in third in 9:04.41.

"I wanted to break the World record, that was the plan from beginning of the season," Chepkoech said.

"And I was aware the biggest chance will be in Monaco due to weather, crowds and the whole environment."

EXPERIENCE
Chepkoech noted that she new she was running fast splits hence not worried.

"I felt strong during the race. My dream was to break 8:50 but not 8:44.," she said, adding that the record can be improved any time.

Chepkoech said her focus now is to run under 8.40.

"It is great feeling I brought back to Kenya the steeple women record. I'm very proud of it," Chepkoech, who has been running for six years, which of them are in steeple, said.

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