This archive report was first published on 1 October 2019.
On Monday night at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, Qatar, Beatrice Chepkoech made history by becoming the new 3,000m steeplechase World Champion. She achieved this feat by running a full solo race from start to finish, setting a new Championship record of 8:57.84.
With this victory, Kenya's gold haul at the championship was stretched to two. Chepkoech outclassed former champion Emma Coburn of the USA by more than five seconds, while also setting her personal best of 9:02.35. Gesa felicitas Krause finished third, setting a German national record.
According to Chepkoech, her aim was to take home the title of World Champion after missing it in 2017. She stated, 'I had to start early because I knew everyone was in shape, my aim was to take home the title – World Champion – after missing it in 2017.'
Other notable performances from Kenyan athletes included Hyvin Kiyeng, who clocked 9:13.53 to finish eighth, and Celliphine Chespol, who dropped out of the race mid-way. In the women's 800m final, Eunice Sum managed a fifth place finish in 1:59.71. Sum stated, 'My target was to reach the final and I attained that, I'm yet to get to my best shape after the hamstring injury.'
Youngsters Jacob Krop and Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli finished sixth and eighth respectively in the men's 5000 metres final, which was won by Muktar Edris of Ethiopia in a time of 12:58.85, a personal best. Krop registered a personal best 13:03.08, while Kimeli's 13:05.27 was only enough for an eighth place finish. Krop stated, 'This was tough but the experience I have gained will help me more at the 2020 U20 Championship in Nairobi.'
Meanwhile, in the women's 400m, Mary Moraa overcame a nagging knee injury to qualify for the semi-finals, clocking 51:85 to finish third. Moraa stated, 'The race was not bad, but one could tell the air was a little heavy, from injury to this kind of competition I feared it might bring some problems but now it's time to put that behind and focus on Olympics 2020.'
The semi-finals will be held later tonight.
