After winning two succesive bronze medals at the 2009 and 2011 world championships, Milcah Chemos Cheywa has finally lived up to her billing. On Tuesday she won the 2013 World championships 3000m steeplechase with a world leading time of 9:11.65.
Chemos was always control as she set the pace. At the bell, Chemos was in the lead with Lydia Chepkurui and Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia following close behind. With 300m to go, Chemos increased her pace and started to put daylight between her and the others.
Lydia Chepkurui finished second, giving Kenya a 1-2 finish. Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia was 3rd. For Chepkurui, the silver medal was her first medal ever.
Late Start
Chemos took up athletics very late. She was in her twenties when she started to run seriously. It was her husband, also an athlete who noticed that she had the physique of a steeplechaser and encouraged her to start running seriously.
Technique
It should be noted however that Chemos’s hurdling technique is highly inefficient. She loses her momentum and almost comes to a stop before each hurdle. If she were to refine her technique she could possibly challenge the world record.
