Former Olympic 3000m steeplechase champion Peruth Chemutai has joined reigning Olympic champion Winfred Yavi in the race to obliterate Beatrice Chepkoech’s world record.
The women’s world record stands at 8:44.32 and was set by Chepkoech at the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco in 2018. Yavi is the only athlete who has come closer to the record and she almost shattered it at the Diamond League Meeting in Rome.
The Kenyan-born Bahraini clocked a stunning 8:44.39 to cross the finish line ahead of Uganda’s Chemutai who struck a national record time of 8:48.03. Both runners have been exceptional this season with Chemutai noting that she really wanted to break the record in Rome.
In a post-race interview, she was disappointed to have missed the world record but was excited to have set a national record. Chemutai led for the better part of the race but it was Yavi who outpaced her and set the second-fastest time over the distance.
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“I feel good and I am very happy. Yet, I came here for the world record and I missed it. But I still achieved a national record. The world record will be for next time. I kind of paced this race for Yavi. I knew that Yavi had this strong kick at the end,” Chemutai said.
“But I planned this race with my coach and my management, unfortunately, I missed the world record. I guess I need to train more for the final 100m. I will celebrate this national record tonight,” she added.
At the Olympic Games, Chemutai was out to defend her title but things did not go as planned as Yavi spoiled the party for her.
Yavi was in a class of her own, clocking 8:52.76 ahead of Chemutai who clocked 8:53.34 for a second-place finish. Kenya’s Faith Cherotich completed the podium in the race, clocking 8:55.15 to cross the finish line.
