A time of 8:44.32 in the 3000 metres steeplechase established Beatrice Chepkoech as the world record holder in 2018 during a competition in Monaco. This performance marked her as the first woman to finish the event in under eight minutes and fifty seconds, solidifying her status as a force in Kenyan long-distance athletics.
Early Career and Transition
Born in Kericho on 6 July 1991, Chepkoech initially concentrated on road running, securing top-three finishes in Germany and the Netherlands throughout 2014. By 2015, she transitioned to track running, setting a 1500 metres personal best of 4:03.28 to win at the KBC Night of Athletics. A bronze medal in the 1500 metres at the 2015 African Games preceded her successful move to the 3000 metres steeplechase, a shift prompted by her performance at the ISTAF Berlin meet.
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Take the IQ test →Progression on the Global Stage
Chepkoech finished fourth at the 2016 Rio Olympics with a time of 9:16.05. In 2017, she earned her first Diamond League victory in Paris before breaking the nine-minute barrier in Zürich with a time of 8:59.84. Despite a navigational error at the London World Championships resulting in a fourth-place finish, she continued to dominate the circuit. In 2018, she claimed silver in the 1500 metres at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast before setting her steeplechase world record.
Championship Success and Records
The 2019 season saw her secure gold at the World Championships in Doha with a record-setting time of 8:57.84. She achieved back-to-back Diamond League titles in 2018 and 2019. Beyond the steeplechase, she set a 5 km road world record of 14:43 in Monaco in February 2021, surpassing the previous mark held by Caroline Chepkoech Kipkirui. She later competed at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, finishing seventh.
Fast facts
- Born: 6 July 1991, Kericho, Kenya
- 3000m Steeplechase World Record: 8:44.32 (2018)
- Diamond League Titles: 2 (2018, 2019)
- 5 km Road World Record: 14:43 (2021)
- 2019 World Championships Gold: 3000m steeplechase
- 2023 World Championships Silver: 3000m steeplechase
- Citizenship: Kenya
- Language: English
Questions readers ask
What is Beatrice Chepkoech's primary athletic discipline?
She is a long-distance runner specializing in the 3000 metres steeplechase.
When did she set the world record for the 3000 metres steeplechase?
She set the world record of 8:44.32 on 20 July 2018 in Monaco.
