Chepkoech, Coburn Face Off In Star-Studded Oslo DL Steeplechase
12th June 2019
Other notable contenders for the race are former world junior champion Celliphine Chespol and former continental winner Norah Jeruto
- Chepkoech has already set the tone for 2019 with her strong 9:04.53 victory in Shanghai, a time only seven other women have ever bettered
- With three wins in as many races this season, Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad has the best momentum at the moment, and also arrives as the world leader at 53.61
- The women's 200m features world champion Dafne Schippers taking on Gabrielle Thomas and Jenna Prandini of the US
OSLO, Norway- World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech faces a strong field including world champion Emma Coburn in women’s 3000m steeplechase in the Oslo Diamond League in Norway on Thursday night.
Chepkoech has already set the tone for 2019 with her strong 9:04.53 victory in Shanghai, a time only seven other women have ever bettered.
Four of them will line up on Thursday: Norah Jeruto and Celliphine Chespol, both members of the still exclusive sub-9:00 club, and Hyvin Kiyeng and Coburn, who'll be making their season's debuts.
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At the same time, women’s 400m hurdles is among the most anticipated races in the event, pitting four sub-53 second runners in the same contest for only the second time this year.
With three wins in as many races this season, Olympic champion Dalilah Muhammad has the best momentum at the moment, and also arrives as the world leader at 53.61.
She'll be taking on Shamier Little and world champion Kori Carter, who were second and fourth behind Muhammad in Rome, and rising star Sydney McLaughlin, who'll be making her Diamond League debut in her main event.
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With the news yesterday that a bout of bursitis has sidelined world leader Abderrahman Samba, the focus in the men's race falls squarely on home star Karsten Warholm, the world champion, and British Virgin Islander Kyron McMaster, the Diamond League champion of the past two years.
In the last two seasons, Warholm has displayed well his ability to get faster almost race-upon-race, so his 47.85 victory in Stockholm 12 days ago bodes well.
Diamond League leader Sharika Nelvis leads the field in the women's 100m hurdles, taking on compatriots Christina Clemons and Brianna McNeal, the Olympic champion, and European champion Elvira Herman.
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Local attention will fall on poster girl Isabelle Pederson, the Norwegian record holder at 12.72.
The women's 200m features world champion Dafne Schippers taking on Gabrielle Thomas and Jenna Prandini of the US.