Wayne Lumbasi
Norah Jeruto, who switched allegiances from Kenya earlier this year, put on a devastating display of front sprinting to win the global 3,000-meter steeplechase title in a huge championship record.
Jeruto clocked the third fastest time in history and a championship record of 8min 53.02sec for the steeplechase victory in Eugene. It was a dominant performance from Jeruto, who literally led the race from start to finish.
She distanced Ethiopia’s Werkuha Getachew (8:54.61) and Mekidas Abebe (8:56.08) for silver and bronze coming off the last water jump in the race.
Bahrain’s Winfred Mutile Yavi, fastest in the world this year, was right in the mix for a medal but had a terrible water jump on the final lap and lost all momentum to finish fourth for the second successive World Championships.
Jeruto, 26, was the fastest steepler in the world the previous year but was unable to participate in the Olympics because she was in the process of changing her nationality from Kenya to Kazakhstan. Jeruto was the second-fastest steepler in the world in 2018 and the fourth-fastest in 2019 prior to the change.
In Africa, Kenya lies second behind Ethiopia who have so far amassed three gold, four silver and one bronze. The United States leads the overall standings.
