In a surprising turn of events at the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Glasgow, Elle St. Pierre from the United States captured the women's 3000m gold on Saturday, achieving a milestone as the first American victor in this category.
Previously securing a silver medal at the last World Indoor Championships in Belgrade in 2022, St. Pierre has now risen to the status of world indoor champion.
At the age of 29, St. Pierre broke the championship record by recording an impressive time of 8:20.87. The race initiated with Beatrice Chepkoech from Kenya, the world steeplechase champion, setting a fast pace and leading at the 1KM mark with a time of 2:48. However, it was the Ethiopian athlete and the favorite before the race, Gudaf Tsegay, who took the lead, increasing the pace to cross the 2KM mark at 5:35, marking a swift 2:46 1K split. The leading group, comprising Australia's Jessica Hull, Chepkoech, St. Pierre, and Britain's Laura Muir, stayed close together until the final 200 meters.
The climax was thrilling as St. Pierre executed a powerful sprint in the last 100 meters, surpassing both Tsegay and Chepkoech to claim the gold medal. Tsegay took home the silver with a time of 8:21.13, and Chepkoech won the bronze, establishing a new Kenyan national record of 8:22.68. Jessica Hull of Australia came in fourth, setting a new Australian record with a time of 8:24.39.
MEN'S 3000m FINAL:
Josh Kerr of Great Britain captured his second World title by securing a remarkable gold in the 3,000m event, buoyed by the vibrant support of the home crowd at the World Athletics Indoor Championships.
The Emirates Arena in Glasgow resonated with the thunderous cheers of the audience as Kerr, the world champion in the 1500m, crossed the finish line in a time of seven minutes and 42.98 seconds. This victory made him the first Scot to win a world indoor gold in 31 years.
In this race, his strategy for the 3000m was executed flawlessly, allowing him to overtake Ethiopia's reigning champion, Selemon Barega.
Once Kerr took the lead in the final 400m, he never looked back. The audience stood in ovation as he surged ahead, securing a victory that will be remembered for years to come.