Can steeplechase trio challenge world record in Xiamen?

The women’s 3000m steeplechase produced one of the tightest finishes in the Diamond League (DL) opener in Shanghai, and expectations are high as three of the quickest runners in the world renew rivalry in Xiamen on Saturday, 23 May.

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Former Olympic champion (Tokyo 2020) Peruth Chemutai won in 8:51.47, just 0.01 ahead of World Champion Faith Cherotich and in Xiamen, the duo is joined by reigning Olympic champion Winfred Yavi, who makes her season debut.

The field also includes Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani, fourth in last year’s world final, and Ethiopia’s Kena Tufa, who both dipped inside nine minutes in Shanghai. France’s Alice Finot, the reigning European champion who was fourth in the 2024 Olympic final, as well as Norah Jeruto of Kazakhstan, the 2022 world champion add to the depth.

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As the World and Olympic podium finishers clash, the meeting record of 8:55.40 held by Beatrice Chepkoech since April 2024 is likely to be broken if Chemutai's 8:51.47 world lead from last weekend is anything to go by.

However, the conversation, following Shanghai's showing has shifted to whether the trio could challenge the World Record in the Chinese city of Xiamen. The global mark of 8:44.32 is held by Chepkoech from July 2018.

Yavi came close to breaking the mark in 2024 when she clocked 8:44.39 in August 2024 while Chemutai is closed behind with a 8:48.03 from the same event in Italy. Cherotich's personal best (PB) of 8:48.71 is also just second behind the World Record.

Cherotich beat Yavi to gold in the world final in Tokyo last year, while in the 2024 Olympic final in Paris, Yavi proved the strongest, with Chemutai taking silver and Cherotich the bronze.

Omanyala, Cherotich lead Kenyan charge at Xiamen Diamond League