Teen sensation breaks Hayward Field steeplechase record

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

RESULTS

EUGENE -- Celliphine Chepteek Chespol, the 18-year-old Kenyan sensation, became the second-fastest 3,000-meter steeplechase performer ever with 8:58.78 on a Friday night women's-only session to honor Joan Benoit Samuelson at the Prefontaine Classic. 

Chespol broke the Hayward Field and meet record and was at the front of a very fast race that saw four women go under 9:10, including U.S. bronze medalist Emma Coburn, who logged 9:07.96 for the second-fastest time of her career.

Chespol also beat world record holder and Olympic champion Ruth Jebet of Bahrain, who was third in 9:03.52. Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech was second with a personal best 9:00.70.

In the women's 5,000 meters, Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba came up short in a world record attempt but still thrilled the Hayward Field crowd with her 14:25.22.

"I'm happy I won, but I'm not happy about the time," she said.

The pacing was a bit off early. Dibaba went through the mid-point at 7:12.

In the women's long jump, 2012 Olympic champion Brittney Reese launched a big early season mark of 23 feet (7.01 meters) to defeat a field that included 2016 Olympic champion Tianna Bartoletta.

In the women's 800 meters, Charlene Lipsey went sub-two for the first time with 1:59.87. Olympian Chrishuna Williams was second with 2:00.62 and high school senior and Texas A&M signee Samantha Watson ran an outdoor PR of 2:01.47 -- the fourth-fastest time in U.S. prep history.

Tatsiana Khaladovich of Belarus won the javelin competition with 217-6 (66.30m) and all six of her throws were beyond 207 feet. American record holder Kara Winger was seventh with 202-3 (61.66m).

One of the highlights of the night came in the Nike Elite Camp girls 200 meters, where eighth-grader Tamari Davis of Gainesville, Fla. beat the top high school atheltes in the country -- including top runners from Florida -- in 23.21 seconds.

Davis was running in lane 2 and said she shocked herself by winning the race.

Gabriele Stafford of Canada ran 4:07.43 to earn a World Champioships qualifier in her 1,500 meters victory. Americans Katie Mackey and Emily Lipari finished second and third, respectively.