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Standing since 2018, Beatrice Chepkoech’s women’s 3000m steeplechase world record faces rising challenges from Diana Chepkemoi and Winfred Yavi.
World Under 20 3000m steeplechase bronze medalist Diana Chepkemoi has her sights set on an ambitious target this season—smashing the world record in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.
This 17-year-old Kenyan prodigy is gearing up for what could be a defining moment in her young athletic career, taking aim at the historic mark set by her compatriot Beatrice Chepkoech.
Chepkoech’s world record of 8:44.32, clocked in Monaco in 2018, has stood unchallenged for six years.
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However, last year, Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi came tantalizingly close with a time of 8:44.39 at the Rome Diamond League, raising questions about the record's longevity.
Undeterred by these monumental figures, Chepkemoi is ready to etch her name into the annals of athletics history.
“Let me go back to training and prepare for the track and field season. My objective is to break the world record for the women’s 3000m steeplechase this season,” said Chepkemoi.
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Chepkemoi burst onto the global stage in 2024, earning bronze at the World Under 20 Championships in Lima, Peru, with a personal best of 9:29.84.
Though this time is a significant gap from the world record, her recent performances suggest she is just warming up.
Earlier this year, she finished third in the Under 20 women’s 6km race during the Athletics Kenya Cross Country Series, signaling steady progress in her conditioning.
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Chepkoech, who currently reigns as the "world’s fastest woman" in the hurdles-and-barrier race, may also feel the heat from other rivals who are closing in.
Winfred Yavi’s near-miss in Rome last year put her within 0.07 seconds of Chepkoech’s record, and Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai was not far behind with an 8:48.03 on the same track.
Other top competitors like Ruth Jebet (8:52.78) and Norah Jeruto (8:53.02) have also demonstrated the capability to approach these elite times.
Adding to the pressure, Kenya’s Faith Cherotich (8:55.15) and Ethiopia’s Werkuha Getachew (8:54.61) have recently joined the elite club of women running under nine minutes, signaling a new era of competition in the steeplechase.
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The bar has never been higher, and Chepkemoi knows the challenge ahead.
Reflecting on her recent race, Chepkemoi called it a stepping stone for the season.
“I am praying to God to help me get into peak fitness. I was at the Great Chepsaita Cross Country but things did not go according to plan because I had a small accident. I am slowly healing and I can see that there is improvement,” she said, her focus now squarely on the Sirikwa Classic World Cross Country Tour and the national championships in February.
For Chepkoech, the timing could not be more critical. Her record has withstood years of competition, but with athletes like Chepkemoi and Yavi pushing the boundaries, it seems the golden era of women’s steeplechase might be reaching a climactic turning point.
With a strong track record in youth championships and an unwavering determination, Chepkemoi’s campaign to rewrite history is one to watch.
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Whether she will succeed in dethroning Chepkoech and ushering in a new era remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the race for supremacy in the women’s 3000m steeplechase is far from over.
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