Norah Jeruto won the women’s 3,000 meters steeplechase gold, creating a World Championships record while China’s Feng Bin defeated Olympic champion Valerie Allman in the discus final in Eugene, Oregon on Wednesday.
The former Kenyan National Jeruto, who switched allegiance to Kazakhstan earlier this year, clocked eight minutes, 53.02 seconds, the third-fastest time ever, surpassing the previous winner Beatrice Chepkoech’s mark in Doha in 2019, by five seconds.
Ethiopian Werkuha Getachew claimed silver, while her compatriot Mekides Abebe settled for bronze.
“At the starting line, I was afraid of my friends from Ethiopia,” Jeruto remarked of her competitors. “They are also champions like me, so I was scared of them. I tried my best to win the race, and it was not easy.”
In the women’s discus final, Feng’s 69.12-meters opener, which was also her personal best, helped her secure a gold while Croatia’s Sandra Perkovic and American Allman finished with silver and bronze, respectively. Reigning champion Yaime Perez finished in the seventh position.
“I am so excited and I have to say all opponents did a very good job today,” said Feng, who ended in 17th place in Tokyo last year. “I did not expect this result coming to Eugene. I just wanted to show my best.”
