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 pushes on to a women’s 3,000m steeplechase world record of 8min 44.32

Chepkoech, 27, broke the previous record mark of 8 minutes 52.78 set by Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet in 2016 and, after breaking clear 2,000 metres into the race, she finished 16 seconds clear of her nearest rival.

“I am so grateful,” Chepkoech told reporters. “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.”

Beatrice Chepkoech after winning the steeplechase at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Monaco

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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