Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi cruised into the final of the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase last night at the World Athletics Championships 2023 in Budapest.
The Kingdom’s chief medal hopeful at the Hungarian capital secured her berth after winning her first-round heat in impressive fashion.
Competing in the first of three races in this stage, the 23-yearold put in a steady pace for most of the distance before powering to the front at the bell.
She then ran shoulder-to-shoulder with Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech across the final bend, and after clearing the last hurdle, did enough to pip her rival at the finish line by four-hundredths-of-a-second.
Winfred posted a winning time of nine minutes 19.18 seconds, with Chepkoech finishing in 9:19.22.
Lomi Muleta of Ethiopia was third in 9:20.13, while Courtney Wayment of the US came fourth in 9:20.60.
Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani was fifth in 9:23.07, completing the five qualifiers for the final from their heat.
Only the first five from each of yesterday’s three races made it through to the medal round, scheduled to take place on Sunday at 10.05pm, Bahrain time.
Advancing from heat two were Faith Cherotich from Kenya, Sembo Almayew from Ethiopia, Peruth Chemutai from Uganda, Marusa Mismas Zrimsek from Slovenia and Parul Chaudhary from India. From heat three, set to battle for a medal are Jackline Chepkoech from Kenya, Zerfe Wondemagegn from Ethiopia, Luiza Gega from Albania, Alice Finot from France and Olivia Gurth from Germany.
Winfred’s finishing time yesterday was the fourth-fastest from the 15 athletes to advance from the heats. It is, however, far from her season’s best of 9:04.38, and her personal best of 8:56.55, which she set last year.
Winfred is looking to claim her first world title in her already decorated career. She has won gold medals in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Asian Games in 2018 and Asian championships in 2019, as well as the 5,000m gold at the same continental meeting.
In the previous world championships in Eugene, Oregon, in the US last year, Winfred came up agonisingly short in her quest for the podium, taking fourth place in the final.
Meanwhile, action in Budapest continues tonight with another two Bahrainis taking to the track.
Kemi Adekoya will be going for gold in the women’s 400m hurdles final at 10.50pm, Bahrain time, while Birhanu Balew will hope to improve on his 10thplace classification in the men’s 10,000m when he competes in the heats of the men’s 5,000m, starting from 8pm.
Former world champion Rose Chelimo is the fourth Bahraini elite athlete in Budapest.
She will run the women’s marathon on Saturday.
