Uganda’s Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai returned to the Diamond League podium on Thursday after finishing third in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Zurich meeting in Switzerland.
Chemutai clocked 8:58.28 to take bronze in a tightly contested race won by Kenya’s Faith Cherotich in 8:55.82. Cherotich edged compatriot Doris Lemngole, who finished second in a personal best of 8:55.94.
The race quickly developed into a battle between Chemutai and the two Kenyans, with the Ugandan initially taking command as the leading trio settled into the pace.
Cherotich stayed within striking distance while Lemngole remained firmly in contention as the athletes negotiated the barriers and water jump. Chemutai remained among the leaders into the closing stages, but the Kenyan pair produced a decisive acceleration on the final lap.
Cherotich pulled away from her rivals before holding off a late challenge from Lemngole to claim victory, while Chemutai fought to the finish to secure third place.
The bronze adds to what has been a strong Diamond League campaign for Chemutai, who opened her season with victory in Shanghai/Keqiao, where she clocked a meeting record of 8:51.47 to edge Cherotich. She followed that with another win in Xiamen, clocking 8:51.06.
She later finished fifth in Eugene before returning to the podium in Zurich, where she faced a strong field that included Cherotich and Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, making the women’s steeplechase one of the most competitive events on the Diamond League circuit.
Chemutai said she was encouraged by her performance, particularly her ability to remain competitive against the leading athletes until the closing stages.
“The race was very competitive. I stayed focused and fought to the finish, and I am happy to be back on the podium. I will continue working hard and preparing for the next competitions,” Chemutai said.
Her latest podium finish further underlines her consistency at the highest level of the event. The Diamond League lists her as a three-time meeting winner, with a personal best of 8:48.03, set in Rome in 2024.
Chemutai, who won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020 and silver at Paris 2024, remains Uganda’s leading name in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.
The Zurich meeting was the final qualifying stop before the Diamond League Final in Brussels on September 4 and 5. Chemutai will now turn her attention to the final, where she is expected to face another elite field as the season reaches its climax.
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