EUGENE, Ore. : Norah Jeruto set a World Championships record en route to winning the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase gold while China's Feng Bin outdid Olympic champion Valerie Allman in the discus final in Eugene, Oregon on Wednesday.
Jeruto, who switched allegiance from Kenya to Kazakhstan earlier this year, clocked eight minutes, 53.02 seconds, the third-fastest time ever and more than five seconds better than previous winner Beatrice Chepkoech's mark in Doha in 2019.
Werkuha Getachew set an Ethiopian record for silver, while her compatriot Mekides Abebe took bronze.
"At the starting line, I was afraid of my friends from Ethiopia," Jeruto said of her competitors. "They are also champions like me so I was scared of them. I tried my best to win the race and it was not easy."
In the women's discus final, Feng's 69.12-metres opener, a personal best, was enough to secure her victory as Croatia's Sandra Perkovic took silver and American Allman finished with bronze. Reigning champion Yaime Perez ended in seventh place.
"I am so excited and I have to say all opponents did a very good job today," said Feng, who finished 17th in Tokyo last year. "I did not expect this result coming to Eugene, I just wanted to show my best."
Earlier on Wednesday, record-holder Sydney McLaughlin and fellow American Dalilah Muhammad set up a highly anticipated showdown in the women's 400 metres hurdles final, after winning their respective heats.
American Champion Allison advanced to the men's 400 metres final, as compatriot Michael Norman stormed to the fastest finish. World record-holder and twice world champion Wayde van Niekerk also sealed qualification.
In the women's 400 metres, double Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo cruised to victory in her
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