Ugandan female middle distance runner Peruth Chemutai won Silver in the 3000m Steeplechase as Kenyan, Celliphine Chepteek Chespol defended her title at the ongoing IAAF U20 World Championships.
Chemutai could not match Chepsol’s time of 9:12:78 and had to settle for second spot.
A large group passed 1000m in a pedestrian 3:16.90, with Ugandan challenger Peruth Chemutai on the outside of the pack and Chespol on her shoulder.
Chespol surged to the front with three laps to go and cranked the pace up further as she clicked through 2000m in 6:15.04 and Chemutai along with Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi who were behind her could only settle for silver and bronze respectively.
Chemutai crossed in 9:18.87, while Yavi crossed in 9:23.47.
“This means a lot to me and for my country,” said Chemutai as quoted by iaaf.org. “I didn’t have any tactics going into the race but it was a very tough race. It feels great to win silver.”
Kenya’s Mercy Chepkirui was a distant fourth in 9:43.65, with Agrie Belachew leading the Ethiopian duo home in fifth.
With that feat, the Chepsol became the first athlete to successfully defend her world U20 title having won it last year in USA.
