Yavi makes history with steeplechase mile win in Brussels

TDT | Manama

Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Olympic and world champion Winfred Yavi claimed a landmark win in the first-ever women’s steeplechase mile at the Memorial van Damme in Brussels.

The 25-year-old dominated from the gun, shadowing American pacemaker Valerie Constien before surging clear and finishing unchallenged in 4:40.13 – more than six seconds ahead of the field. Yavi hit the halfway split in 2:13.25 and extended her lead to over 30 metres as she powered through the final lap.

The steeplechase mile, which features barriers and a water jump like the traditional 3,000m event, was introduced by World Athletics as a faster, spectator-friendly variant. It will be formally recognised for world record purposes from 2026.

“It felt really good today,” Yavi said. “I was hoping for a quicker time, but it’s an unusual distance and felt harder than the 3,000m. I had to adjust my jumps as I was running faster towards the barriers.”

American Angelina Ellis was second in 4:46.74, with Germany’s Olivia Gurth third in 4:51.87. Kenya’s Celestine Jepkosgei Biwot (4:52.10), Romania’s Stello Rutto (4:54.80), the Netherlands’ Veerle Bakker (4:56.02) and Ethiopia’s Wosane Asefa (5:06.53) completed the line-up.

The Memorial van Damme was part of the Wanda Diamond League, with Yavi now set to target her second Diamond Trophy in Zurich next week in the 3,000m steeplechase – an event she won in 2023. She is also preparing to defend her world title at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo next month.

Bahrain’s Kemi Adekoya was also in action in Brussels, finishing seventh in the women’s 400m hurdles in 55.50s. The race was won by Anna Cockrell of the US in 53.66s, ahead of Panama’s Gianna Woodruff (53.89s) and Belgium’s Naomi van den Broeck (54.12s).