Relentless and determined, Chepkoech now eyes Olympic gold

Philip Muchiri in Doha, Qatar

Beatrice Chepkoech, the newly crowned 3,000m steeplechase World champion says her victory was inspired by the heartache she suffered two years ago at a similar competition in London.

However on Monday night she was in sparkling form as she piped all to cross the line in sturdy steps amidst a raucous applause from hundreds of Kenyan at the Khalifa International Stadium.

Enroute to her victory, Chepkoech, 28, who won bagged silver in the 1,500m at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, opened a 40m gap early in the first 400m and maintained to set a Championship record of 8:57.84.

“I decided to be in front all through because I knew everyone was in good shape, now I am so happy to be the World Champion; this is a quest I started in 2016 at the Olympics only to finish fourth; the mistake in London 2017 where I missed the podium, was also in my mind, but now I’m the world champion, the mission is accomplished,” said chepkoech.

Being a world championship event without pace setters and with a controlled temperature inside the Khalifa International Stadium, many thought it was suicidal for the world record holder to lead that early,but she proved the naysayers wrong.

“It was not difficult to run alone; I have seen every one here at the diamond league and I knew they were going to cause trouble, so I decided to destroy the field early, I knew if anyone tried to follow me they would burn out because I’m in shape and I also wanted to attempt the championship record, which I did,” an elated Chepkoech told Citizen Digital.

But with a World title and record in the pocket, she is now training her eyes on 2020, hoping to add an Olympic title, the only medal missing in her collection.

“I have learned so much since 2016, mostly in this championship, now my focus turns to the Olympics next year in Japan, my target being to bring the gold medal home,” she said.