Lausanne DL: Doris Lemngole shines in Lausanne ahead of World Championships debut
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 20.08.25. | 22:16
The 23-year-old braced wet conditions to breeze to a comfortable win
Fast-rising steeplechase star Doris Lemngole stamped her authority on the international stage after producing a commanding performance to win the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Lausanne Diamond League on Friday, 20 August.
The 23-year-old, fresh from earning a historic call-up to Kenya’s Tokyo World Championships squad, clocked 9:16.36 to claim victory in style as she fine-tunes her preparations for her maiden global appearance.
Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew settled for second in 9:20.39, while USA’s Olivia Markezich crossed third in 9:20.73.
Lemngole, a student-athlete at the University of Alabama’s Crimson Tide, has been balancing books and elite athletics.
She underlined her growing reputation with a mature debut Diamond League run in Lausanne, showing patience before seizing control in the second half of the race.
The Kenyan had started cautiously, leading the pack early on as Maseret Yeshaneh was disqualified within the opening stages.
By the 400m mark, Lemngole had surged to third position, tracking Markezich closely. At 800m, she made her decisive move, storming to the front and refusing to relinquish her lead.
By 1600m, she had opened up a clear gap on the chasing pack, stretching her lead further at the 2000m mark with a split of 6:10.81.
From there, it became a one-woman show as she held off Almayew and Markezich with composure to seal one of the biggest wins of her career so far.
The victory comes just weeks after she secured her ticket to the World Championships by finishing second at the national trials on July 22 in 9:24.69, behind Olympic bronze medalist Faith Cherotich (9:09.44).
At the Worlds, she will line up alongside Cherotich and NCAA double champion Pamela Kosgei in a formidable Kenyan steeplechase squad.
Lemngole has already carved out an illustrious collegiate career in the United States.
She won the 2024 Outdoor NCAA 3000m steeplechase title, the 2024 NCAA Cross Country title, and most recently added the 2024 NCAA Indoor 5000m crown alongside another Outdoor 3000m steeplechase triumph.
During the NCAA National Championships, she set a new collegiate record of 8:58.15 in the 3,000m steeplechase, a performance that underscored her dominance on the U.S. circuit.
Her brilliance saw her named the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Lance Harter Collegiate National Athlete of the Year for Cross Country in 2024.
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