2013 Doha Women’s Steeplechase: Lydiah Chepkurui pulls off a big upset

by LetsRun.com
Mary 10, 2013

The women’s steeple at the Diamond League opener in Doha, Qatar tonight featured five of the top six finishers from the London Olympics and four of the five women who went sub 9:10 last year.

In the end, the winner was a surprise. 27-year old Kenyan Lydiah Chepkurui, who came in with a 9:14.98 pb and didn’t make the Olympics last year (6th at Kenyan Trials), got the victory in a new personal best of 9:13.75 after a blistering last 1 km of 2:57.32 (last lap 67 low).

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Ethiopian national record holder and London Olympic bronze medallist Sofia Assefa was second in 9:14.61. London 5th placer Hiwot Ayalew was third in 9:17.60.

Lydiah Chepkuru after the biggest win of her career Lydiah Chepkurui after the biggest win of her career

The field showed no interest in going with the rabbit early on, setting up conditions for the fast finish.

Results and quick take below.

Quick Take (QT) #1: Runner-up Assefa is really good at finishing second or third in races, but not winning. Last year, she was second at the Ethiopian trials, Shanghai, Eugene and Oslo and third in Paris and at the Olympics.

QT #2: Kenya’s Milcah Chemos was only fifth and we think that’s a good sign for her and Kenyan fans. In both 2011 and 2012, Chemos has been unbeatable early in the year only to under perform at Worlds/Olympics. Hopefully the slow start tonight means she’ll get her peak right this year.

In 2011, Chemos won all six of her races prior to finishing third at world’s. In 2012, she won all four of her races before finishing fourth at the Olympics.

3000 Metres Steeplechase – Women
Pts
1 Chepkurui , Lydiah               KEN    9:13.75          4
2 Assefa , Sofia                   ETH    9:14.61          2
3 Ayalew , Hiwot                   ETH    9:17.60          1
4 Diro , Etenesh                   ETH    9:17.78
5 Cheywa , Milcah Chemos           KEN    9:19.17
6 Kirui , Purity Cherotich         KEN    9:19.42
7 Ghribi , Habiba                  TUN    9:22.20
8 Rotich , Lydia Chebet            KEN    9:26.31
9 Nyangau , Ruth Bisibori          KEN    9:31.81
10 Fente , Birtukan                 ETH    9:35.18
11 Ayana , Almaz                    ETH    9:37.65
12 Krause , Gesa Felicitas          GER    9:38.76
13 Bekele , Mekdes                  ETH    9:45.86
14 Jelizarova , Polina              LAT    9:47.23
15 Cherotich , Fancy                KEN   10:09.68
Nyambura , Virginia              KEN        DNF

At the bell At the bell

Splits: 1000m

Nyambura, Virginia (KEN)
3:05.09
2000m
Chepkurui, Lidya (KEN)
6:16.43

More LRC Coverage of Doha :
*Men’s 800: Men’s 800: David Rudisha Has To Work For It But He Opens 2013 Season With World Leading 800 Win
*Men’s 1500: Asbel Kiprop Is Back – Kenyan Dominates 2013 Diamond League Opener in Doha
*Men’s 3000: Hagos Gebrhiwet Makes A Statement With Impressive 3000 Win – 18-Year Old Phenom Seems To Be The Man To Beat in 2013
*Women’s 1500: Sweden’s Abeba Aregawi Wins As Three Women Run 3:57.54 or Better!!!
*Women’s Steeple: Lydiah Chepkurui pulls off a big upset

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