The world record holder in the 3,000m steeplechase, Beatrice Chepkoech, now also has the best result in the world in the 2,000m steeplechase, achieving a time of 5:47.42 min at the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial in Zagreb.
The 32-year-old Kenyan athlete came into the race targeting the 5:52.80 min, achieved by Gesa Felicitas Krause in 2019 and attacked it from the start. Moving ahead of the pacemakers, she covered the half distance in 2:51.15 min and ended up bettering the world record by more than five seconds, with her 20-year-old compatriot Winnie Jemutai also closed near the previous world record and finished at 5:52.92 min for the silver.
Marusa Mismas-Zrimsek (Slovenia) was third in a national record of 5:53.38 min, while Luiza Gega (Albania) was fourth in 5:56.79 min.
“I had one world record and now I have two, so I’m lucky”, said Beatrice Chepkoech, who returned this season from an injury, which took her out of the last season.
Beatrice Chepkoech is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specializes in the 3,000m steeplechase. She won gold medals at the 2019 World Championships and 2018 African Championships and silver medal at the 2023 World Championships. In the 1,500m, Beatrice Chepkoech took silver at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the 2015 African Games. She is a two-time 3,000m steeplechase Diamond League champion and won two Kenyan national titles.
