Monte Carlo: Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech obliterated the world record in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase by more than eight seconds in a stunning Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday.
Already the fastest in the world this year, Chepkoech, 27, won in a time of eight minutes 44.32 seconds to break the previous record mark of 8 minutes 52.78 set by Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet in 2016.
“I am so grateful,” Chepkoech said. “I said from the beginning, from the first lap, and I was watching the time, and I knew I was going to break the world record.”
Chepkoech, whose previous best time was 8:59.36 in Paris last month, finished fourth in both the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2017 London world championships.
Olympic and world champion Caster Semenya continued her dominance of the women’s 800m, winning her 26th consecutive final in 1:54.60. The South African has not lost over the distance since 2015.
