| After one lap of the final, all Kenyans and Ethiopians were clear of the field. Ayalew led through 1000m in 3:01.72, and then Chemos took the lead. The shortest of the contenders, and with a rudimentary hurdle technique, she covered the second kilometre in 3:09.64. With just under two laps to go, Assefa hit a hurdle and fell, losing 20m. Chemos lifted the pace approaching the bell, and though training partner Chepkurui got near during the last lap, she could never pass her diminutive teammate. Chemos became Kenya’s first female world steeplechase champion. Behind her Chepkurui only just held off Asefa for silver. Without the fall, the Ethiopian would surely have been battling for gold. The transponder time for her final lap was 73.27, quicker than the 73.68 of the winner. The two biggest threats to East Africa never made it to Moscow. Olympic silver medallist Habiba Ghribi withdrew with an injury. So did defending champion Yulia Zaripova, who was reported as having hurt her knee hurdling, but was later declared guilty by the Russian Anti-Doping Agency of having committed a doping offence from July 25, 2013. |
