As expected, Dorcus Inzikuru easily clinched the first ever World Athletics Final women's 3000m Steeplechase crown. In command for much of the race, the petite Ugandan clocked 9:21.80, nearly four seconds ahead Pole Wioletta Janowska (9:25.47).
It was the sixth win in as many contests for the 23-year-old, who earlier in the season lowered the World best in the 2000m version of the event to 6:04.46 in Milan in early June before claiming the first World title in the event.
"I am so happy that I have finished the season successfully and without injury," Inzikuru said. "I think that I can break the World record next year." The record, 9:01.59, was set by Gulnara Samitova in 2004. Inzikuru is currently the second fastest ever.
Less than six minutes into the race, Inzikuru had matters well under control. With a comfortable four second lead with two laps to go, she surrendered no ground over the final stages.
As has been the case much of the season, the event’s all-time performance list continued to be amended behind her. While Janowska just missed her own personal best, Jamaican Mardea Hyman again lowered the Central American and Caribbean record, this time to 9:27.21 to finish third, just ahead of Livia Toth (9:30.20), who set a new Hungarian record. Russian Yelena Zadorozhnaya continued to improve as well, finishing fifth here with a personal best 9:32.41
Kenyan Salome Chepchumba, who led for the first kilometre, paid for early pace work and finished a distant 10th.
BR