Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech breaks women's steeplechase world record

ByReuters

Updated 20/07/2018 at 19:57 GMT

Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech smashed the world record in the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase with a time of eight minutes 44.32 seconds at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday.

Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech celebrates after her new world record in the women's 3000 metre steeplechase at the IAAF Diamond League athletics 'Herculis' meeting at The Stade Louis II Stadium in Monaco on July 20, 2018. - Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech ran 8min

Image credit: Getty Images

Chepkoech, 27, broke the previous record mark of 8 minutes 52.78 set by Bahrain's Ruth Jebet in 2016.

"I am so grateful," Chepkoech told reporters.

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"I said from the beginning, from the first lap, and I was watching the time, and I knew I was going to break the world record."

Her previous best was 8:59.36 in Paris last month and she finished fourth in the 2016 Rio Olympics and 2017 London world championships.

American world silver medallist Courtney Frerichs took second in a North American record of 9:00.85.

"That race was incredible," Frerichs said.

"Eight seconds under the world record. It's such a huge step for the event."

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