Beatrice Chepkoech


Beatrice Chepkoech Sitonik 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.

Biography

Chepkoech began her career in road running, taking top three placings in 2014 at several low level races in Germany and the Netherlands. 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. A bronze medal in the event followed at the 2015 African Games.
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.
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. Highlights.
In 2019, she competed in the senior women's race at the 2019 IAAF World Cross Country Championships held in Aarhus, Denmark. She finished in 7th place.

Personal bests

All information from IAAF.

International competitions