This archive report was first published on 30 September 2019.
Beatrice Chepkoech, the world record holder in the 3,000m steeplechase, has won 15 of her last 17 steeplechases, a remarkable streak that has her and her Kenyan teammates, Hyvin Kiyeng and Celliphine Chespol, confident of reclaiming the title.
On Friday, the trio ran the heats of the women's 3000m steeplechase, earning an automatic qualification to the final. Chepkoech, who missed the water jump in 2017 and lost her winning chances, cruised to the final with a time of 9:18.01.
Hyvin Kiyeng, the 2015 Beijing champion, topped her heat with a steady 9:29.15, while Celliphine Chespol, a two-time world Under-20 champion, qualified with a time of 9:24.22.
The Kenyan trio has vowed to bring the title home after what they described as 'a lack of coordination' at the 2017 Worlds in London, where they lost the gold and silver to Americans Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs.
They will face stiff competition from Uganda's Peruth Chemutai, who won heat one in 9:21.98. The Kenyan team plans to deploy teamwork tactics, with Chepkoech promising to 'run as a team and win gold for Kenya.'
The steeplechase final is set to take place tonight at 9:50 pm.
