All eyes will be on Kenya’s women’s 3,000m steeplechase trio as they begin their campaign to stardom on Wednesday at the National Athletics Centre in Budapest.
What separates the Kenyans women steeplechasers is just the experience but they all have what it takes to make the country proud. No wonder they are being touted as favourites here as the Championships enter Day 5.
While the pendulum seems to swing towards world 3,000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, Jackline Chepkoech’s recent performances have left many scratching their heads hard on where to place their bet.
Jackline won a gold medal at the 2021 World U20 Championships in Nairobi, and at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She looks upbeat and set to upset the form book as she tries to get her footing in the senior cadre.
She is the only woman to have run under nine minutes this season with her impressive PB, meeting record, and world lead of 8:57.35 set during the London Diamond League.
Jackline, 19, ran a fantastic and well-calculated race to beat her more experienced teammate Beatrice to second place in 9:04.34.
Prior to the London Diamond League, the two Kenyans had clashed in four other races thus: Doha Diamond League, Kip Keino Classic, Rome Golden Gala and at the Kenyan Trials with Beatrice beating Jackline in three of those races.
It will be interesting this time round as the two seek to recapture the title Kenya last won in 2019 at the Doha World Championships. However, the friendly rivalry will all be an advantage to the country.
Jackline, a 2022 World Athletics Rising Star award nominee remains upbeat, saying: "I am ready. Let me tackle the first hurdle on Wednesday then we can talk about the final,” she said.
Injury setbacks in 2021 and 2022 thwarted Beatrice's quest to retain her titles at the Tokyo Olympics and World Championships in Oregon but she looks in super shape this time.
Beatrice said: "We are coming up against very strong opponents including Wilfred Yavi (Kenyan-born Bahraini) and Peruth Chemutai (Uganda). However, we are ready. But we need to first negotiate the semis and from there, plan for the final."
The two will have the company of another fast-rising star Faith Cherotich, the reigning World U20 champion over the distance.
Cherotich is ranked seventh in the world with her time of 9:06.43. She is making her debut at the World Championships. The 19-year-old will rely on the support of her two counterparts if she is to make an impression.
Coach Julius Kirwa believes the women's steeplechase team is solid and ready.
"I have been observing them during training and I think they are itching for the title. But first things first... let us see how it goes in the semis," he noted.
It will not be all rosy for Kenya as Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew will be seeking to make her country proud too.
No Ethiopian woman has won gold in the 3000m steeplechase at the World Championships but Almayew will seek to change that narrative.
Her confidence is boosted by her personal best time of 9:00.71, the second fastest time in the world this year.
She will have the company of Zerfe Wondemagegn (9:04.61) and Mekides Abebe (9:11.09) ranked sixth and 18th respectively
Former Kenyan turned Bahraini Winfred Yavi will be another athlete to watch. She will be out to improve on her fourth-place finish at both the 2019 and 2022 World Championships.
She owns the fourth-fastest time in the world this year (9:04.38) posted in Doha Diamond League, where she dominated.
London 2017 world champion Emma Coburn will lead the US charge to the title. She will be joined by Wayment Courtney as well as the reigning national champion Krissy Gear, who took over from Coburn and has won a whopping 10 US titles between 2011 to 2022.
Others to look out for are three-time French champion Alice Finot (9:10.04), Tokyo Olympics gold medal winner Peruth Chemutai of Uganda (9:11.91), European champion Luiza Gega (9:11.94), and Great Britain’s Aimee Pratt (9:16.10).
DAY 5 Schedule
Morning Session
Time Sex Event Round
11:05 W 800m Heats
11:15 M Pole Vault Qualification
11:20 W Javelin Qualification (A)
12:10 W 5000m Heats
12:15 M Long Jump Qualification
12:55 W Javelin Qualification (B)
13:05 W 200 Heats
13:50 M 200m Heats
Afternoon Session
Time Sex Event Round
20:00 W Hammer Qualification (A)
20:10 W Triple Jump Qualification
20:30 W Pole Vault Final
20:45 W 3000m S/C Heats
21:35 W Hammer Qualification (B)
21:40 W 100m/H Semi-Final
22:15 M 1500m Final
22:35 W 400m Final
22:50 M 400m/H Final
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