Beatrice Chepkoech to battle Winfred Yavi in Xiamen

World 3000m steeplechase record holder Beatrice Chepkoech will have a battle of her life time as she seeks to revenge against her fierce rival at the Xiamen Diamond League scheduled for April 20, 2024 in Xiamen, China.

The 32 year-old who is fresh from defending her title at the just concluded 13th edition of the All-Africa Games in Accra, Ghana, holds the water and barrier record with a time of 8:44.32, which she set six years ago in Monaco.

Chepkoech who is also the 2018 Commonwealth Games champion will face the reigning world 3000m steeplechase champion Winfred Mutile Yavi who now trades for Bahrain and has been a torn in the flesh to the former world champion in recent times.

The 24 year-old, Yavi, who hails from Ukia, Makueni County has beaten the record holder not once or twice but three times including last year at the Zurich and Prefontaine leg of the Diamond League, just under a week after clinching the World Championship title in Budapest.

Chepkoech who had ruled over Yavi for almost seven years has not regained her former shape but this Xiamen meeting which pits the two will gauge each other’s strength as the season kicks off.

The two will also have to get past the 19 year-old, Faith Cherotich who has faced both at Eugene during the world champs and also at the Zurich meeting, where she finished third again, clocking her first-ever sub-nine of 8:59.65 as she joined the exclusive club of elite women in the steeplechase history.