Chepkoech, who has not competed in any competitive steeplechase race for close to seven months.
Women’s steeplechase world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech will be taking on a star-studded field in the Diamond League Meeting season opener in Doha, Qatar on Friday, May 5.
Chepkoech, who has not run in any competitive steeplechase race for close to seven months will be keen to rekindle her love with her specialty once she sets foot on the track. However, the race has also attracted rising stars who may give her a run for her money.
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The last time Chepkoech competed over her specialty was during the Diamond League Meeting in Brussels (September 2, 2022) but faded to finish a disappointing seventh in 9:24.73. Last year she was due to defend her world title but unfortunately pulled out of the World Championships due to an injury.
She comes into the field with tons of experience and will be keen to use that to her advantage. This year, she kickstarted her season with a win in Port Gentil over the 10km race. She also competed at the second Athletics Kenya meet where she won the 1500m race.
The 2019 world champion will enjoy the company of compatriots Jackline Chepkoech, Faith Cherotich, and Doris Cherop who will also be hoping to leave a mark at the event.
Jackline, just 19 years old is a reigning Commonwealth Games champion and former World under-20 champion. She kickstarted her season with a second-place finish at the Sirikwa Cross-country competitions.
On her part, Cherotich also brags of a junior title that she won during last year’s World Under-20 championships in Cali, Colombia. She opened her season at the World Cross-country Championships which saw her settle for fourth place in the junior women’s race.
For Cherop, this will mark her second international outing since she started her career in 2017 and she will also be hoping to impress. She started her season with a win at the second AK meet and hopes to extend the hot streak to Doha.
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The two-time world champion has good memories of the Qatari capital and hopes to set early pace for the 2023 season
The opposition will most likely come from reigning Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda. The race will be her season opener on the track and she might just pull a surprise.
The 23-year-old is yet to earn herself a world title but this might be the year she takes the mantle. Despite falling on the track during the competition, she was third during last year’s Commonwealth Games.
Another athlete to watch out for is Ethiopia’s Mekides Abebe who poses a great threat despite being 22 years old. Abebe has managed to earn a name for herself on the global stage with a bronze medal at the World Championships and a fourth-place finish at the Olympic Games.
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Abebe is also the 2019 All-Africa Games 3000m SC champion. She will enjoy the company of compatriots Zerfe Wondemagegn and Sembo Almayew.
Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi is also a force to reckon with when it comes to steeplechase. She will also be opening her track season in Doha after two successful cross-country competitions that saw her finish in the podium bracket.