Winfred Yavi dominates Kenyans in Paris Diamond League 3000m steeplechase

Winfred Yavi dominates Kenyans in Paris Diamond League 3000m steeplechase

Festus Chuma 21:00 - 07.07.2024

It was a surprising race as Winfred Yavi triumphed and Beatrice Chepkoech finished a disappointing ninth at the Paris Diamond League.

World 3000m steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi once again outshone world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech on Sunday at the Paris Diamond League.

Yavi showcased her exceptional form by clinching victory with a time of 9:03.68 leaving her competitors trailing behind.

The race saw Chepkoech take an early lead maintaining her position for the better part of the competition.

However, in a surprising turn of events, she faltered in the final laps, dropping to a disappointing ninth place with a time of 9:27.21.

This unexpected result has raised concerns about her preparedness as the Olympic Games draw near.

French athlete Alice Finot delivered an impressive performance, securing second place with a national record and personal best time of 9:05.01.

Great Britain's Elizabeth Bird rounded out the podium, clocking in at 9:09.07 to claim third place.

The American runner Olivia Markezich finished fourth, posting a time of 9:14.67.

Germany's Lea Meyer followed closely, crossing the line in 9:15.48 to take fifth place.

Marwa Bouzayani from Tunisia secured sixth place with a time of 9:15.54, while Alicja Konieczek from Poland finished seventh, recording a time of 9:17.20.

Daisy Jepkemei, representing Kazakhstan, completed the race in eighth place with a time of 9:21.75.

Adva Cohen from Israel finished tenth, clocking 9:35.45, completing a challenging race that saw several athletes pushing their limits.

Yavi’s performance in Paris marks a significant milestone in her season.

Having contested just one steeplechase race earlier this year in Eugene, where she finished in 9:21.62, Yavi has since focused on improving her 5000m time, achieving a personal best of 14:41.99.

On the other hand, Chepkoech's form has been commendable in previous events. She clocked an impressive 8:55.40 in Xiamen and set a personal best of 3:59.73 in the 1500m.

However, her performance in Paris raises questions about her consistency and readiness for upcoming competitions.

The uncharacteristic drop in performance is something her coaching team will undoubtedly scrutinize as they prepare for the global stage.

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