Beatrice Chepkoech reflects on second successive loss to Winfred Yavi in Zurich

On Thursday night, Beatrice Chepkoech, the world record holder in the 3000-meter steeplechase, found herself crossing the finish line in second place trailing behind the Bahraini sensation Winfred Mutile Yavi at the Diamond League Meeting in Zurich, Switzerland. 

This defeat marked the second successive loss for Chepkoech at the hands of Yavi, following their clash in the recently concluded World Championships in Budapest.

With a time of 9:03.70, Chepkoech was just a fraction of a second behind Yavi's impressive time of 9:03.19.

The race unfolded in a manner reminiscent of their clash at the World Championships, with both athletes breaking away from the rest of the field in the closing laps.

Reflecting on her performance, Chepkoech shared her thoughts on the race and her approach in the aftermath of the Budapest championships.

 "I think today (Thursday) it was so easy because we did not want to push hard after the World Championships in Budapest," Chepkoech said. 

The 32-year-old candidly revealed that in Budapest, the initial intensity had taken a toll on her body, but the global final had sparked a resurgence. 

"You know, in Budapest we went out hard, and I felt that my body was shutting down, but after running that global final, my body started to come back up again," she explained.

Chepkoech's strategy leading up to the Zurich Diamond League showcased a calculated focus on recovery and preparation. 

"In the last few days, I just focused on some easy running, resting, and getting a lot of sleep," she disclosed.

The battle for supremacy on the 3000m steeplechase did not just involve Chepkoech and Yavi.

 World U20 champion Faith Cherotich also put on an impressive performance, securing the third spot with a time of 9:07.59.