Genevieve Lalonde has race of her life, breaks Canadian record in 3000m steeplechase final
In one of the greatest upsets in track history, Americans Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs take gold and silver over the greatest field ever assembled
Racing in what was dubbed the most talent-stacked start list in women’s steeplechase history, Canada’s Genevieve Lalonde did her part to deliver.
The New Brunswick athlete lowered her own national record to 9:29.99 in a wild and thrilling race. She ended up in 13th place.
Chepkoech, najwiÄ™ksza faworytka do zÅ‚ota, zagapiÅ‚a siÄ™ i… ominęła przeszkodÄ™. ? SkoÅ„czyÅ‚a czwarta. pic.twitter.com/jeCjCrXNQ0
— Adrian PudÅ‚o (@adrianpudlo) August 11, 2017
The final featured some of the fastest women’s steeplchasers in history, including the world record holder and Olympic champion Ruth Jebet. The Bahraini (but Kenyan-born) athlete separated the field after a strange moment when Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech ran off course, missing the water jump. Somehow, Chepkoech was able to rally, and eventually finished fourth.
Un doublé américain au 3000 m steeple avec un record des mondiaux & un record canadien pour @lalongen qui termine 13e #Londres2017 pic.twitter.com/OD5wulO1vG
— Radio-Canada Sports (@RC_Sports) August 11, 2017
Americans Emma Coburn and Courtney Frerichs loomed in the lead pack until the home stretch, pulling away from the stunned field of top East African athletes. Kenyan born athletes have dominated steeplechase for years. Coburn obliterated any chance of a Kenyan victory with her sprint to the finish, not only upsetting the field but doing so in dominant fashion.
Jebet, who was the favourite entering the race, faded to fifth in the final stretch. Jyvin Jepkemoi of Kenya managed to hang on for the bronze medal.
Coburn and Frerichs both seemed in shock with the outcome, embracing each other and then collapsing onto the track, arm-in-arm. Coburn set the meet record and lowered her own national record by nearly five seconds in the race, and Frerichs ran a 17 second personal best.
POS | BIB | ATHLETE | COUNTRY | MARK |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 4324 | Emma COBURN | USA | 9:02.58 CR |
2 | 4333 | Courtney FRERICHS | 9:03.77 PB | |
3 | 4079 | Hyvin Kiyeng JEPKEMOI | 9:04.03 | |
4 | 4075 | Beatrice CHEPKOECH | 9:10.45 | |
5 | 3705 | Ruth JEBET | 9:13.96 | |
6 | 4077 | Celliphine Chepteek CHESPOL | 9:15.04 WU20R | |
7 | 3843 | Etenesh DIRO | 9:22.46 | |
8 | 3710 | Winfred Mutile YAVI | 9:22.67 PB | |
9 | 3942 | Gesa Felicitas KRAUSE | 9:23.87 | |
10 | 4083 | Purity Cherotich KIRUI | 9:25.62 | |
11 | 3611 | Belén CASETTA | 9:25.99 AR | |
12 | 3624 | Genevieve LACAZE | 9:26.25 SB | |
13 | 3729 | Geneviève LALONDE | 9:29.99 NR | |
4040 | Aisha PRAUGHT | DQ | ||
3844 | Birtukan FENTE | DNS |