This archive report was first published on 2 October 2019.
On September 30, 2019, Beatrice Chepkoech made history at the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships in Doha, Qatar, winning the gold medal in the women's 3000m steeplechase event.
Two years after a mid-race blunder cost her a chance at a medal, Chepkoech produced one of the most dominant steeplechase performances in World Championships history.
At 29 years old, Chepkoech, the event's record holder, went straight to the front and built up a four-second lead over a chase pack led by 2015 world champion Hyvin Kiyeng, defending champion Emma Coburn, Uganda's Peruth Chemutai, and Bahrain's Winfred Yavi within the space of one lap.
Chepkoech successfully navigated the final barrier, still with Coburn in pursuit, while Germany's Gesa Krause flew through the water jump to move past Yavi into third place.
Chepkoech crossed the line in a championship record of 8:57.84, with Coburn following in a lifetime best of 9:02.35 to take the silver medal.
Excited Chepkoech, who is coached by Gabriel Kiptanui in Kericho, said she was happy to control the race from the gun and dedicated the gold medal to her parents.
"I am so grateful. I decided to go to the front because I knew there was going to be a lot of pushing. I was excited to be in front and controlled the race. I am glad to improve the championship record because I knew the time Emma Coburn ran in London so I really wanted to break the championship record," she said.
She continued, "I was watching the screen and the way they were coming, and I knew that if I put the effort to run the first kilometre fast, she (Coburn) will not follow me anymore."
"There was a lot of pressure on me because everywhere in the media in Kenya, they were expecting gold from me. For now, I have to go and train hard for the Tokyo Olympics," Chepkoech added.
