Diamond League: Yavi chasing history as brand-new discipline debuts in Brussels
Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 22.08.25. | 15:06
By revamping several disciplines, World Athletics aims to make the sport more attractive
Olympic and World 3000m steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi will run the steeplechase mile, a brand-new discipline, at the Allianz Memorial Van Damme on Friday, 22 August.
The discipline has never been contested at this level before, and it is not an official world record event, but the Bahraini athlete is in form to lay down the gauntlet, given her recent results in the 3000m steeplechase.
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Yavi is ready to make history in Brussels, Belgium and has a super-fast world record time in mind. A shorter race with a higher speed is anticipated to be a spectacle, in which Yavi is expected to provide the fuel as she takes on a field of nine.
"I'll be super-prepared at the start line," promises Yavi. "Together with my coach and team, I've planned everything down to the last detail. I have all the split times and a final time in mind."
The Kenyan-born Bahraini had a shaky start to her season, twice losing to Olympic and World bronze medalist Faith Cherotich in the Doha and Oslo Diamond Leagues.
She made a return at the Pre-Fontaine to run a world lead of 8:45.25 for the win, beating her Kenyan nemesis.
Her next victory came at the Night of Athletics Stadion De Veen, Heusden-Zolder, on Saturday, 19 July, where she clocked 8:49.59 to finish ahead of Kenya’s Celestine Jepkosgei Biwot, who ran 9:19.22 for second place.
However, Yavi does not give out any timestamps. "I can only say that it's going to be a very fast and very interesting race." She realises that the first major steeplechase mile could be something very special.
"I always want to raise the bar. I want to make history in Brussels and inspire other young athletes with my achievement."
Tonight, Yavi goes to battle with Biwot yet again, the 22-year-old bringing a 4:16.29 1500m personal best (PB) and a 2000m Steeplechase 6:02.04 PB from 2023. She ran 6:05.16 to place second, behind Polish Kinga Królik (6:03.75) on Saturday, 5 July.
The Kenyan has had a busy season, winning the 3000m in 8:46.04 at the Meeting International de Marseille on Sunday, 13 July, before heading to Belgium for her match-up with Yavi.
Her last race was a month ago, where she placed fifth in the 3000m Steeplechase, clocking 9:41.79 during the Athletics Kenya (AK) World Athletics Championships trials to miss out on a slot in Team Kenya.
By revamping several disciplines, World Athletics aims to make the sport more attractive. For example, the steeplechase mile, along with the mixed 4×100m relay, is one of the test events included in the Allianz Memorial Van Damme program at the request of the World Athletics Federation.
Additional reporting by Diamond League
