Jeruto saves best for last: Athlete claims honours in Zagreb championships

Athletics - IAAF Athletics Diamond League - Womens 3000M Steeplechase - Bislett Stadium, Oslo, Norway - June 15, 2017 First placed Norah Jeruto of Kenya and second placed Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia compete. Vidar Ruud/NTB scanpix/via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. NORWAY OUT.

After smashing the IAAF World Challenge Meeting record in women's 3,000m steeplechase in Berlin last weekend, Kenya's Norah Jeruto continued with her late season top form with a victory in Croatia's capital, Zagreb on Tuesday night.

At the Zurich IAAF Diamond League steeplechase final, the 21-year-old finished third in 9:05.31, then her lifetime best, behind compatriot Beatrice Chepkoech and Bahraini Ruth Jebet, the Trophy winner.

Last Sunday in Berlin, Jeruto produced performance of the night on the track winning 3,000m steeplechase in a meeting record of 9:03.70 and dropped her personal best time in the process.

Less than 48 hours later in Zagreb, the former IAAF World Under-18 champion took over from the pacesetter with four laps to go, as she waged a serious race against the clock. One lap later, she took a five-second lead, a margin she doubled in the penultimate lap.

Her tear continued over the final lap before she powered across the line in 9:04.56, marginally slower than the lifetime best of 9:03.70 she clocked in Berlin. She won by more than 15 seconds.

Joan Chepkemoi ran her lifetime best of 9:20.22 while reigning Commonwealth Games 3,000m Steeplechase champion Purity Cherotich timed 9:21.89 to close Kenyan's impressive 1-4 finish.

In men's 3,000m, Kenyan's 19-year-old Davis Kiplagat, held off Mohammed Ahmed of Canada to finish second in 7:39.97. Ethiopian teenager Selemon Barega, who seems to be having a fabulous year won in 7:38.90.

Barega was victorious in the 3,000m IAAF world Under-18 Championships in Nairobi in July and finished fifth in 5,000m at the World Championships in London.

Other Kenyans in the top-10 finish were 2010 Commonwealth champion Silas Kiplagat (7:43.39 in fifth) and Bethwel Birgen (7:44.20), who was sixth.

Women's 800m final saw Kenya's sole runner Winny Chebet warm up to the final IAAF Diamond 1,500 final in Brussels tomorrow night with a second-place finish behind World bronze medallist Ajee Wilson of USA who clocked 1:57.13.

Chebet clocked 1:58.13 ahead of Lynsey Sharp of Great Britain, who crossed the line in 1:58.35.

Meanwhile, local star and meeting poster girl Sandra Perkovic dazzled in Zagreb's meeting.

As with most of her appearances at this IAAF World Challenge meeting in recent years, expectations were high as Perkovic, a native of the Croatian capital and one of the most popular sports figures in the country, made her first home outing after winning her second world discus throw in London 16 days ago.

She didn't disappoint, producing a series that included two throws beyond 70 metres, capped by a 70.83m effort in the fifth round.

Perkovic needed a few rounds to get used to a new throwing circle. She fouled her first throw and reached 63.31m with her second.