OREGON22: Kenya loses bid to retain women's Steeplechase title as Chespol finishes 13th in the final

Kenya's hopes of clinching her second gold medal as well as retaining the World Athletics 3000m Steeplechase title were put off after Celliphine Chespol finished a disappointing 13th in the final held on Thursday morning.

The country had stashed her hopes of bagging the second gold medal in the ongoing championships in the shoulders of Chespol who was a lone ranger in the final but that never came to pass as she faded off to a third from last finish.

She was the only Kenyan to qualify for the final as the duo of World U20 champions Jackline Chepkoech and Purity Kirui failed to go past the semis hurdle. Chespol crossed the line after 9:27.34.

Interestingly, the race was won by Norah Jeruto, a Kenyan born athlete who switched allegiance to Kazakhstan in a championship record of 8:53.02 with the Ethiopian duo of Werkuha Getachew and Mekides Abebe sweeping the other podium places in a national and personal bests of 8:54.61 and 8:56.08 respectively.

Chespol's loss means that Kenya has now surrendered her world crowns in the water and barrier race as Olympic champion Soufine El Bakkali dethroned Conseslus Kipruto the men's title a day ago.

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Earlier on, World 5000m silver medalist Margaret Kipkemboi and Beatrice Chebet advanced to the final after finishing fourth and third respectively in the semis.

Kipkemboi, who handed the country a bronze medal in the 10000m race held a couple of days ago, timed a season best of 14:53.45 just behind Chebet who also clocked 14:53.34, her best time this season.

Also joining in the list of athletes who advanced to the is another Kenyan in Gloria Kite who finished sixth in the second heat after crossing the line after 14:53.62.

World 1500m silver medalist Tsegay Gudaf of Ethiopia won the semis in 14:52.64 with her compatriot Dawit Seyaum finishing second in 14:53.06. The 2016 Rio Olympics Games 800m gold medalist Caster Semenya of South Africa finished a distant 13th and consequently, will not grace the final.

World 10000m champion Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia won the second semi ahead of Caroline Kipkirui of Kazakhstan and Sifan Hassan of Netherlands.

Meanwhile, the quartet of Emmanuel Korir, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Noah Kibet and Wycliffe Kinyamal booked slots in the 800m semis.