Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai showed her class and resilience on Saturday night at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, finishing third in a blistering women’s 3000m steeplechase that rewrote the record books.
The 2021 Olympic champion was right in the mix from the start, pacing the race through the first 1000m in 2:56.61 and leading the field through 2000m in 5:55.39. Chemutai looked composed and confident as she held the front, pulling the pack into uncharted territory.
But in the final kilometre, Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi surged ahead to take command.
Yavi, the reigning world and Olympic champion, dug deep in the closing laps and nearly collapsed over the finish line in 8:45.25 — just shy of the world record, but enough for a new meet record and the third-fastest time ever run.
Chemutai battled hard to stay in contention but had to settle for third in 8:51.77, behind Kenya’s Faith Cherotich (8:48.71), who closed strongly to take second. Despite missing out on the top spot, Chemutai’s performance was her fastest time this year and one of the finest of her career.
Incredibly, five women dipped under nine minutes for the first time in steeplechase history, confirming just how fast and historic the race was.
Chemutai’s podium finish not only reaffirmed her status as one of the top distance runners in the world, it also kept Uganda’s presence strong on a night dominated by record-breaking feats.
With the World Championships in Tokyo just around the corner, Chemutai’s performance sends a clear message: she’s right in the medal conversation, and ready to take on the best.
