Rome DL: Yavi nears world record, Tebogo upsets sprinting stars as Kipyegon wins 1500m

World and Olympic champion Winfred Yavi narrowly missed the world record in the 3000m steeplechase, finishing in 8:44.39 at the Golden Gala in Rome on Friday (30). Yavi’s time is the second-fastest in history and a new Asian record. She was on pace to break the world record of 8:44.32, set by Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech, but stumbled over the final hurdle.

“I looked at the time after the race and I went ‘oh, no!’,” Yavi said. “I was really expecting that record and I was going for it. I definitely feel I should break it and I believe it will happen. I need to work even harder. And I am planning to have another go at it before the end of the season. My biggest goal for next year is to become a double world champion.”

Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai, the 2021 Olympic champion, took silver with a national record of 8:48.03, moving her up to third on the world all-time list.

In the men's 100m, Botswana’s Olympic 200m champion Letsile Tebogo upset world indoor champion Christian Coleman and Olympic bronze medallist Fred Kerley, winning in 9.87 seconds. Tebogo, 21, previously finished sixth in the Olympic 100m final with a national record of 9.86.

“I am just in a really good shape,” said Tebogo, who turned to face his competitors before crossing the line with a smile. Coleman was second in 9.92, while Kerley finished third in 9.95.

In the women’s 1500m, Faith Kipyegon won in 3:52.89, falling short of her own world record of 3:49.04. “I am satisfied with the pace and with how the race went,” she said. “It was all about qualifying for the Diamond League final.”

Jamaican Ackera Nugent continued her strong season, winning the women’s 100m hurdles in a record time of 12.24, defeating Olympic champion Masai Russell, who finished second in 12.31. Nugent said, “This victory is not like a revenge for the Olympics for me.”

Italy’s Gianmarco Tamberi had an emotional performance in the high jump, finishing joint third at 2.30m. South Korea’s Woo Sanghyeok won with a personal best.

In other events, France’s Sasha Zhoya won the 110m hurdles in 13.18, and American Tara Davis-Woodhall triumphed in the long jump with 7.02m. Triple Olympic shot put champion Ryan Crouser set a meeting record with a throw of 22.49m.

The men’s 5000m saw Hagos Gebrhiwet win in 12:51.07, with Ethiopian rivals Yomif Kejelcha and Selemon Barega close behind. Zambia’s Muzala Samukonga won the men’s 400m in 43.99, while Anna Cockrell took the women’s 400m hurdles in 52.59. In the men’s triple jump, Italy’s Andy Diaz won with 17.32m, and Brittany Brown of the United States clinched the women’s 200m in 22.00.