Ugandan runner Perut Chemutai set a season-best world time in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the Diamond League in Shanghai.
The Shanghai stage is Chemutai's first start in 2026. The Ugandan runner's last start was the 2025 World Championships, where she failed to finish due to a fall during the race.
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In Shanghai, Chemutai fought for victory in the final seconds against reigning world champion Faith Cherotic in the 3000 meters steeplechase. Chemutai eventually crossed the finish line 0.01 seconds earlier, winning the gold medal in 8:51.47 minutes.
With the win, the runner broke the season's world record, which had been held by American Gracie Hyde (9:22.19 minutes) since April. In this race, bronze medalist Marwa Bouzayani broke the Tunisian record, four other runners improved their personal bests, and 11 improved their own season records.
Diamond League. Shanghai. 3000m steeplechase (women)
- Perut Chemutai (Uganda) 8:51.47 minutes — world season record, Diamond League stage record
- Faith Cherotic (Kenya) 8:51.48 min — best result of the season
- Marwa Bouzayani (Tunisia) 8:58.09 min — national record
“In the end, thank God, I won this race. I was so happy because last year, after the World Championships, I was so disappointed. But I can prepare [for the next races] and I'm so happy with this result. I had strong motivation and at the same time I prepared well for this,” Chemutay told the organizers in a comment.
In addition, Chemutai broke Beatrice Chepkoech's seven-year-old Diamond League record (9:04.53 minutes), set in May 2019. However, the Ugandan athlete fell 7.15 seconds short of Chepkoech's world record from July 2018.
“[Regarding the world record], I want to prepare with my coach for my next competition and then we'll see. I'm so happy to be able to run with athletes like Faith [Cerotic] and Yafi [Winfred], [which helps the competition],” the runner added.
Also thanks to the results, Čemutaj set the eighth best result in the history of the 3000 m steeplechase, and Čerotic is ninth. In this ranking, Čemutaj also holds fourth place with a national record – a time of 8:48.03 minutes at the Diamond League stage in Rome in August 2024.