Uganda’s two-time Olympic medalist Peruth Chemutai stormed into the women’s 3000m steeplechase final at the World Athletics Championships on Monday with the day’s fastest qualifying time.
The 2020 Olympic champion clocked 9:07.68 to win Heat 3, finishing ahead of Kenya’s Doris Lemngole and Ethiopia’s Lomi Muleta. Her performance sent a clear warning to rivals ahead of Wednesday’s medal race.
Tokyo holds special meaning for Chemutai, who made history here four years ago as Uganda’s first female Olympic gold medalist. Now she’s back, eyeing another career-defining moment.
She will face defending world champion and reigning Olympic gold medalist Winfred Yavi of Bahrain, who cruised through Heat 2 in 9:15.63. The two last clashed at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where Yavi edged Chemutai for gold.
Uganda’s second entrant, Loice Chekwemoi, ran a personal best of 9:25.34 but finished eighth in Heat 1 after an early barrier mishap and missed qualification.
Uganda has yet to secure a medal at these championships, where it owns 13 medals overall, four from long-distance great Joshua Cheptegei.
