Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech takes wrong turn during world 3,000m steeplechase
A critical error by Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech as she misses the water jump and has to backtrack during the women's 3,000m steeplechase in London
The women’s 3,000m steeplechase at the IAAF World Championships had it all. Drama, an upset winner and even a wrong turn.
Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech, the then-leader of the race, was rounding the corner in the leadup to the water jump early in the Friday night event. Instead of veering to her left, to the inside of the track where the water pit is located, Chepkoech continued on as one would in a non-steeplechase event.
Once she realized her mistake Chepkoech backtracked 10-20m and made the clearance, losing considerable time in the process. In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, runners pass by the water pit the first time around. Once the first lap is complete, runners must clear the water pit on each lap thereon in.
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If you only watch one race from #IAAFworlds today, make it the women's 3000m steeplechase final.@emmajcoburn leads home a @usatf double. pic.twitter.com/99ZA5bAdZs
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) August 11, 2017
The 26-year-old wasted no time in bridging the gap between herself and the leaders and was back in the mix within 400m, which may have cost her a medal in the end.
She wound up finishing fourth in a race that saw the United States go 1-2 courtesy of Emma Coburn, in 9:02.58, and Courtney Frerichs. Canadian Geneviève Lalonde finished 13th and set a new national record running 9:29.99.
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