Jeruto stuns Chepkoech to win Oslo DL

Former African champion Norah Jeruto set a 9:03.71 Oslo Diamond League meet record as she stunned the world 3000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech on Thursday.

Chepkoech, who smashed the world record last year with 8:44.32, came second in 9:04.30 with Olympic silver medallist Hyvin Kiyeng timing 9:07.56 to complete a Kenyan podium sweep.

World Champion Emma Coburn of USA placed fourth on an evening that saw Jeruto hand Chepkoech her first taste of defeat in seven meetings with her last loss coming in last year’s Rome meeting close to a year ago.

Daisy Jepkemei, World Under-20 3000m steeplechase champion Cellphine Chespol and Peruth Chemutai were ranked fifth to seventh respectively.

Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega reigned supreme in the men’s 3000m after clocking 7:32.17 with Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei settling for the second spot in 7:33.26 as Nicholas Kimeli of Kenya placed fourth in 7:34.85.

Other Kenyans in the race Davis Kiplangat and Olympic Games 10,000m silver medallist Paul Tanui finished ninth and 14th respectively.

After placing second in 5000m at the Golden Gala a week ago, Barega maintained close contact in third over the first kilometre, then moved into second with 600 metres remaining.

He then made his decisive move with just over half a lap to go to seal the victory while at the same time achieving hitting a new Personal Best.

The Oslo showdown marked the fifth leg of the Diamond League series this season with the next stop being Rabat, Morocco on June 16.