Peruth Chemutai is getting ready to defend her Olympic title in Paris as she claimed the 3000m steeplechase at the Eugene meet of the Diamond League on Saturday night with 8:55.09.
Her previous best was 9:01.45 recorded at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo to claim gold.
It was the first sub-9-clocking for Chemutai who was running in her second race of the Diamond League season and also a world-leading time.
The 24-year-old Ugandan competed in the Xiamen meeting last month. She clocked 9:12.99 finishing in 3rd place behind Beatrice Chepkoech and Faith Cheroitich who she beat at the Heyward Field last night.
Chepkoech came second in 8:56.51 with compatriot Faith Cherotich completing the top three in 9:04.45.
Meanwhile, Halima Nakaayi – the other Ugandan to run in Eugene – finished fifth in the women’s 800m. Nakaayi clocked 1:58.18.
The next Diamond League event will be on Thursday, 30th May in Oslo. Long-distance stars Joshua Cheptegei and Jacob Kiplimo will compete in the men’s 5000m.
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