Why 2024 is a special year for steeplechase world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech

ATHLETICS Why 2024 is a special year for steeplechase world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech

Abigael Wafula 22:00 - 10.03.2024

World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech has revealed why she thinks 2024 is her year of achieving most of her goals.

World 3000m Steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech has predicted a bright future for herself this season after winning her first medal at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

Giving her assessment, Chepkoech explained that so far, her body is responding well and this is her year and she wants to bag the gold medal at the global bonanza.

Her first time representing Kenya at the Olympic Games was during the 2016 Rio event where she finished fourth in the women’s steeplechase event.

Chepkoech was then included in Team Kenya for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games where she finished seventh in the final of her specialty.

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“This year will be good for me because at least my injury is over and I’m targeting the Olympic Games with my hopes being to win an Olympic medal.

“I started my campaign at the 2016 Olympic Games and this will be the third time I will be competing in the Olympics and I hope I’m going to get that medal,” Chepkoech said.

The World 3000m SC silver medallist disclosed that she will only compete in the steeplechase and not double as she hopes to win a medal in her specialty first.

She noted that for the African Games, she will seek to compete in the 5000m as she builds up for the global bonanza.

“Yes…I’ll compete in the 5000m. I’m from competing in the indoor 3000m so now I will go for speed endurance in Ghana and then I’ll come back and work on my speed,” she said.

Competing at the African Games national trials, Chepkoech thought she could not win the race due to a flu but she was surprised to carry the day.

Leading from gun to tape, she clocked an impressive time of 15:29.69 to cross the finish line first ahead of Mary Mananu who will be joining her to the continental showpiece.

The 32-year-old also emphasised that winning a medal in the indoor championships is enough proof that she will do better at the Olympic Games.