Ruth Bisibori Nyangau of Kenya, a runaway winner of the women's 3000m steeplechase (© Getty Images)
Bouncing back from a subpar performance at the World Championships, Ruth Bisibori dominated the women’s Steeplechase with a solid – and quick – season-capping victory.
Running at the front and alone virtually from the gun, the 21-year-old Kenyan, who took the 2007 African Games title running barefoot, clocked 9:13.43, a WAF record which was just 0.27 seconds shy of her personal best set earlier this season.
Less than two laps into the contest, Bisibori was already a few steps ahead of her compatriot Milcah Chemos, who took surprise bronze in Berlin. With three laps remaining she extended her lead to five metres, and to more than 10 a lap later.
“I trained very hard this year and I was aiming for a good result here,” said Bisibori, who finished a disappointing seventh at the World Championships. Two years ago she was fourth in Osaka when still running as a junior.
“The body didn’t respond in Berlin,” said Bisibori, who took victories in Doha and Oslo this season. “This is my first major championship win and I expect more in the future.” Financially, it was her biggest as well, bagging her $30,000.
Likewise Chemos was never threatened for the runner-up spot. The 23-year-old newcomer to the event after dabbling with the 800 and 1500m clocked 9:20.19. Gladys Jerotich finished third in 9:21.18 to complete a 1-2-3 sweep for Kenya.
Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia passed a pair of runners down the homestretch to finish fourth in 9:26.10, ahead of another Kenyan, Lydia Jebet (9:26.94), and Sophie Duarte of France (9:27.78).
Just 200 metres into the race, Tunisian record holder Habiba Ghribi, who last year became the first Tunisian woman to reach an Olympic final and this year finished sixth at the World Championships, took a nasty spill over the second barrier, knocking herself out of the race early.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
Running at the front and alone virtually from the gun, the 21-year-old Kenyan, who took the 2007 African Games title running barefoot, clocked 9:13.43, a WAF record which was just 0.27 seconds shy of her personal best set earlier this season.
Less than two laps into the contest, Bisibori was already a few steps ahead of her compatriot Milcah Chemos, who took surprise bronze in Berlin. With three laps remaining she extended her lead to five metres, and to more than 10 a lap later.
“I trained very hard this year and I was aiming for a good result here,” said Bisibori, who finished a disappointing seventh at the World Championships. Two years ago she was fourth in Osaka when still running as a junior.
“The body didn’t respond in Berlin,” said Bisibori, who took victories in Doha and Oslo this season. “This is my first major championship win and I expect more in the future.” Financially, it was her biggest as well, bagging her $30,000.
Likewise Chemos was never threatened for the runner-up spot. The 23-year-old newcomer to the event after dabbling with the 800 and 1500m clocked 9:20.19. Gladys Jerotich finished third in 9:21.18 to complete a 1-2-3 sweep for Kenya.
Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia passed a pair of runners down the homestretch to finish fourth in 9:26.10, ahead of another Kenyan, Lydia Jebet (9:26.94), and Sophie Duarte of France (9:27.78).
Just 200 metres into the race, Tunisian record holder Habiba Ghribi, who last year became the first Tunisian woman to reach an Olympic final and this year finished sixth at the World Championships, took a nasty spill over the second barrier, knocking herself out of the race early.
Bob Ramsak for the IAAF
