Beatrice Chepkoech (Kenya), the reigning world 3,000m steeplechase champion and world record holder, will return to the Qatari capital alongside Emma Coburn (USA) and Gesa Felicitas Krause (Germany) — second and third respectively in the 2019 World Championships — for a thrilling rematch at the Wanda Doha Diamond League on Friday.
Chepkoech has already enjoyed success this year, most notably when achieving a 5k (road) world record in Monaco (14:43) and an indoor personal best for 3,000m (8:31.72), both in February. Her 3,000m SC world record, also achieved in Monaco (2018), is an incredible 8:44.32.
Coburn, Olympic bronze medallist in Rio and 2017 world champion, has a 3,000m SC best of 9:02.35 from the 2019 World Championships. She recorded an indoor personal best over 3000m this year clocking 8:39.19 in New York, and ran 15:24.76 for 5000m in February – her fastest time ever over the distance. More recently, she clocked 4:04.28, just outside her PB, to finish fourth at the Track Meet in California.
Krause is the German national record holder in the 3,000m SC courtesy of her World Championships bronze medal-winning performance in 2019 (9:03.30). She raced extensively throughout the 2021 indoor season and opened her outdoor season with a 2:05.76 800m in Germany on 21 May. She will compete in her first 3000m SC of the year in Doha as she prepares for her third Olympic Games this summer.
Chepkoech, who finished third over 3,000m in the 2020 Wanda Doha Diamond League, said: “I’m looking forward to competing in Doha. It’s the place where I became World Champion. 2021 is a special year with the Olympics coming up and I would like to start my outdoor season in a nice way.”
(Diamond League)
Beatrice Chepkoech
