World Record-Holder Chepkoech Smashes DL Meeting Record In Birmingham

19th August 2019 - by IAAF

Although the pace dropped over the final couple of laps, she had enough of a lead over the chase trio – Celliphine Chespol, Winfred Yavi and Hyvin Kiyeng – to coast to victory in 9:05.55

Beatrice Chepkoech of Kenya competes in the Womens 3000m Steeplechase during the Muller Birmingham Grand Prix & IAAF Diamond League event at Alexander Stadium on August 18, 2019 in Birmingham, England. PHOTO/ GETTY IMAGES

SUMMARY

All five women have guaranteed their spot in the IAAF Diamond League final in a few weeks’ time where they will line up against the likes of world champion Emma Coburn
Chespol closed well over the final 300 metres but still finished a second adrift in 9:06.76 with Yavi taking third (9:07.23) and Kiyeng fourth (9:07.25)
When Konstanze Klosterhalfen was born, the German record for the mile had already stood for 11-and-a-half years. And as she lined up for the Millicent Fawcett mile in Birmingham, that record was three days shy of turning 34

BIRMINGHAM, United Kingdom- World record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech produced a dominant run in the Muller Grand Prix 3000m steeplechase as she led five women inside the old meeting record at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Birmingham on Sunday (18).

Paced through the first kilometre in 2:58.15, the Kenyan was still on schedule for a sub-nine-minute time through 2000m, reached in 5:59.94.

Although the pace dropped over the final couple of laps, she had enough of a lead over the chase trio – Celliphine Chespol, Winfred Yavi and Hyvin Kiyeng – to coast to victory in 9:05.55.

Chespol closed well over the final 300 metres but still finished a second adrift in 9:06.76 with Yavi taking third (9:07.23) and Kiyeng fourth (9:07.25).

Norah Jeruto was further back in fourth in 9:10.72, but even she was almost seven seconds quicker than the former meeting record of 9:17.43, set back in 2013 by Milcah Chemos.

All five women have guaranteed their spot in the IAAF Diamond League final in a few weeks’ time where they will line up against the likes of world champion Emma Coburn.

When Konstanze Klosterhalfen was born, the German record for the mile had already stood for 11-and-a-half years. And as she lined up for the Millicent Fawcett mile in Birmingham, that record was three days shy of turning 34.

But little more than four minutes later, Klosterhalfen had secured her sixth national record of the year, crossing the line in 4:21.11 to take 0.48 off Ulrike Bruns’ mark. It also took three seconds off the meeting record set by Sonia O’Sullivan back in 1992, the oldest women’s meeting record in Birmingham’s books.

The pacemaker led the field through 400m in 1:02.74 and 800m in 2:09.22, after which Klosterhalfen took up the running with Canada’s Gabriela DeBues-Stafford tucked close behind. On the final lap, Klosterhalfen had enough of a kick to keep DeBues-Stafford at bay, winning in 4:21.11 to the Canadian’s 4:22.47.

The win also guaranteed Klosterhalfen a spot in the IAAF Diamond League final.

“It’s nice to take my first Diamond League win,” said the German. “It was windy out there but I still produced a good time like that and I'm delighted. I needed to use a lot of power in the wind and to win was incredible.”

Ajee Wilson lived up to expectations by winning the women’s 800m. With light rain falling in the breezy conditions, the US champion looked untroubled as she coasted to victory in 2:00.76 with Britain’s Lynsey Sharp taking second place in 2:01.09.

In the non-scoring men’s middle-distance events, Uganda’s Ronald Musagala emerged victorious from a four-man pack at the end of the 1500m to win in 3:35.12 from Australia’s Stewart McSweyn (3:35.21), while Ireland’s Mark English similarly timed his finish to perfection to win the 800m in a season’s best of 1:45.94.