Beatrice Chepkoech

Beatrice Chepkoech Sitonik (born 6 July 1991) is a Kenyan long-distance runner who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase. She is the current world record holder in that event running 8:44.32 in 2018. With that time she became the first woman to break 8:50 and 8:45. She was also a bronze medallist over 1500 metres at the 2015 African Games.

Beatrice Chepkoech

Chepkoech competing at the 2016 Summer Olympics
Personal information
Nationality	Kenyan
Born	(1991-07-06) 6 July 1991 Bomet, Kenya
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Weight	54 kg (119 lb)[1]
Sport
Country	Kenya
Sport	Athletics
Event(s)	Long-distance running
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)	3000 m SC: 8:44.32 (2018) WR
Medal record Women's athletics Representing  Kenya World Championships 2019 Doha 3000 m st. Commonwealth Games 2018 Gold Coast 1500 m African Games 2015 Brazzaville 1500 m African Championships 2018 Asaba 3000 m st. Continental Cup 2018 Ostrava 3000 m st.

Biography

Chepkoech began her career in road running, taking top three placings in 2014 at several low level races in Germany and the Netherlands.[2] She switched to track running in 2015 and set a 1500 m best of 4:03.28 minutes to win at the KBC Night of Athletics. This time placed her just outside the top twenty athlete for the season and she was the fifth fastest Kenyan.[3] A bronze medal in the event followed at the 2015 African Games.[4]

Chepkoech ended her 2015 season with a run in the 2000 metres steeplechase at the ISTAF Berlin and this prompted her to try the full 3000 m Olympic event. She made a successful transition and on the 2016 IAAF Diamond League circuit she ran 9:17.41 minutes for fourth at the Prefontaine Classic before taking second at the Stockholm Diamond League. She ranked fifth in the world upon entry to the 2016 Rio Olympics.[5]

She finished 2nd at the 1500m in the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

In July 2018, Chepkoech shaved eight seconds off the women's world record in the 3000 m steeplechase, winning IAAF Diamond League Monaco race in 8:44.32.[6] Highlights Video on YouTube.

In 2019, she competed in the senior women's race at the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships held in Aarhus, Denmark.[7] She finished in 7th place.[7]

Personal bests

• 800 metres – 2:05.73 (2015)
• 1500 metres – 4:03.09 (2018)
• 3000 metres – 8:28.66 (2017)
• 2000 metres steeplechase – 6:02.47 (2015)
• 3000 metres steeplechase – 8:44.32 (2018) (WR)
• 10K run – 32:35 (2014)
• Half marathon – 1:24:02 (2009)

All information from IAAF.[8]

International competitions

Year	Competition	Venue	Position	Event	Notes
2015	African Games	Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo	3rd	1500 m	4:19.16
2016	Olympic Games	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	4th	3000 m s'chase	9:16.05
2017	World Championships	London, United Kingdom	4th	3000 m s'chase	9:10.45
2018	World Indoor Championship	Birmingham, United Kingdom	7th	1500 m	4:13.59
	Commonwealth Games	Gold Coast, Australia	2nd	1500 m	4:03.09
	African Championships	Asaba, Nigeria	1st	3000 m s'chase	8:59.88
	IAAF Continental Cup	Ostrava, Czech Republic	1st	3000 m s'chase	9:07.92 CR
2019	World Championships	Doha, Qatar	1st	3000 m s'chase	8:57.84 CR

References

1. Chepkoech. Rio2016. Retrieved on 13 August 2016.
2. Beatrice Chepkoech Sitonik. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 13 August 2016.
3. Senior Outdoor Women's 1500 metres 2015. IAAF. Retrieved on 13 August 2016.
4. Big-Time Women's Steeple Talent Set for Pre Classic. Diamond League (24 May 2016). Retrieved on 2016-08-13.
5. Senior Outdoor Women's 3000 metres steeplechase 2016. IAAF. Retrieved on 13 August 2016.
6. https://www.iaaf.org/news/report/monaco-diamond-league-chepkoech-world-record
7. "Senior women's race" (PDF). 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 June 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
8. Beatrice Chepkoech. All-Athletics. Retrieved on 13 August 2016.

External links

• Beatrice Chepkoech at World Athletics
• Beatrice Chepkoech at Olympics at Sports-Reference.com (archived)