US stunner in steeplechase
london — Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs stunned the World Championships by winning gold and silver in a dramatic women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase final on Friday, the first Americans to get medals in the event.
The duo were not counted among the favourites heading to London, with world record holder and 2016 Olympic champion Ruth Jebet of Bahrain looking like the one to beat.
The 20-year-old led at the 1000m and 2000m splits, but going into the final lap, Jebet was overtaken by the Americans and Kenyans Hyvin Jepkemoi and Beatrice Chepkoech. The leading pack was heavily congested heading into the last 200 metres.
But Coburn launched herself over the final water jump in a daring move that led to her surging down the final straight to win in a Championship record time of 9 minutes 2.58 seconds. “Oh my goodness, what a race to be part of,” she said. “I have memories from 2015 and 2016 where I went too early for the last push, so I just had to keep trusting myself and be patient, and it looks like it paid off.
“I never expected to win in that time but I kept pressing. It is pretty amazing to get a championship record. “I just expected the others to finish quickly, so I just kept pushing to make sure I got that gold that I wanted so much.” Frerichs finished in a personal best of 9:03.77 to complete a brilliant one-two for the US. —