Sparkling Chepkoech wins Kenya’s second gold at Doha Worlds

Beatrice Chepkoech is the new 3,000m steeplechase World Champion. Chepkoech ran a full solo race from start to finish registering a new Championship record of 8:57.84 at the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha Qatar on Monday night.

Her heroics stretched Kenya’s gold haul at the championship to two

The world record holder outclassed former champion Emma Coburn of USA with more than five seconds but managed to set her personal best of 9:02.35. Gesa felicitas Krause set a German national record after finishing third.

“I had to start early because I knew everyone was in shape, my aim was to take home the title – World Champion – after missing it in 2017,” Chepkoech said after her victory.

Hyvin Kiyeng clocked 9:13.53 to finish eighth with Celliphine Chespol dropping out of the race mid way.

Kenya’s solo representative in the women’s 800m final Eunice Sum managed a fifth place finish in 1:59.71.

“My target was to reach the final and I attained that,” she said. “I’m yet to get to my best shape after the hamstring injury.”

Youngsters Jacob Krop and Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli finished sixth and eighth respectively in the men’s 5000 metres final, which was won by Muktar Edris of Ethiopia in a time of 12:58.85- a personal best.

Krop registered a personal best 13:03.08 while Kimeli’s 13:05.27 was only enough for an eighth place finish.

“This was tough but the experience I have gained will help me more at the 2020 U20 Championship in Nairobi,” said Krop.

In the women’s 400m, Mary Moraa overcame a nagging knee injury to qualify for the semi finals, clocking 51:85 to finish third. The national 400m champion who is also the African U20 champion now targets the final.

“The race was not bad, but one could tell the air was a little heavy, from injury to this kind of competition I feared it might bring some problems but now it’s time to put that behind and focus on Olympics 2020,” she said.

“I never thought I would do this but after seeing the doctor in the morning and a little bit here and there I decided to try it, thank God I made it,” she added

“The pressure out there is too high; this is my first time to compete in senior’s race on the international arena, but my target is the final and I believe anything can happen,” an excited Moraa told Citizen Digital after her qualification

The semi finals will be held later tonight.