3. Celliphine Chepteek Chespol (3000m Steeplechase)

Only a few athletes can lay claim to beating the World Record (WR) holder in their event, and Kenya’s Celliphine Chepteek Chespol falls into the exclusive class of such athletes. The petite 18-year old has already begun to position herself as one of the best in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase, and it remains to be seen how well she holds her own in London.

The 2015 IAAF World Youth Champion upgraded to World Junior Champion in 2016, and is now posing a threat to her seniors, considering her streak of impressive performances this year. Chespol competed in four Diamond League meetings this year, finishing 4th in Doha and then improving to 2nd position in Shanghai.

Celliphine Chespol comes to London as the World Leader in the women’s 3000m Steeplechase. (Photo Credit: iaaf.org)

Chespol was in a class of her own at the Eugene Diamond League where she stunned WR holder Ruth Jebet and the rest of the field to set a scorching World Lead (WL) and Personal Best (PB) of 8:58.78, even though one of her shoes slipped off on the water jump. The time is the fastest ever on American soil and second fastest on the all-time list. It also makes the Kenyan the only woman to have dipped under nine minutes this season.

At the next Diamond League meeting in Paris, many expected Chespol to replicate this performance but she seemed to have tired out early, and was overtaken by compatriots Beatrice Chepkoech and reigning World Champion Hyvin Kiyeng. Nevertheless, she was able to claim the Kenyan Senior title with 9:34.03 to finish ahead of Chepkoech.

Chespol has evolved since winning GOLD at the 2016 World Juniors. Photo Credit: Making of Champions / PaV Media Ltd

WR holder Jebet won only one of her four Diamond League races this year, which suggests that she may not be in the same form that saw her win the Olympic title last year. Nevertheless, Chespol will still have to contend with her more experienced teammates Kiyeng and Chepkoech who both look good for GOLD. Can the teenager come of age in London?

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Yemi Galadima is a Senior Sportswriter and Editor at Making of Champions. She has a bias for Athletics and was previously a Sports Reporter at the National Mirror, where she hosted a weekly column ‘On the Track with Yemi Olus’ for over two years. A self-acclaimed ‘athletics junkie’, she has covered national and international events live, such as the African Athletics Championships, African Games, Olympics and World Athletics Championships. She also freelances for World Athletics.

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