Hyvin Jepkemoi in 2015
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Personal information | |
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Born | 13 January 1992 |
Height | 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in) |
Weight | 42 kg (93 lb) |
Sport | |
Country | Kenya |
Sport | Athletics |
Event(s) | 3000 metres steeplechase |
Updated on 15 August 2016. |
Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi (born 13 January 1992) is a Kenyan steeplechase runner. She won gold at the 2015 World Championships in Athletics and 2011 All-Africa Games, and bronze at the 2012 African Championships in Athletics. As of June 2015[update], her personal best time of 9:00.01 ranks her 3rd on the world all-time list.
Early in her career, Jepkemoi competed in a variety of events; her main event was the 5000 metres, in which she placed fifth at the 2011 Kenyan Championships. At the 2011 All-Africa Games in Maputo she competed in both the 5000 metres and an event completely new to her, the 3000 metres steeplechase; she placed fourth in her main event but won an unexpected gold in the steeplechase, running 10:00.50 and outkicking Ethiopia's Hiwot Ayalew to win Kenya's first athletics gold medal at the Games.
In 2012 Jepkemoi started concentrating on the steeplechase and her times improved; her best time that year was 9:23.53, which she ran at the Gugl Games in Linz. She scored her first IAAF Diamond Race points with a third place at Weltklasse Zürich after Sofia Assefa, the original winner, was disqualified for a lane violation. At the Kenyan Championships Jepkemoi placed second and gained selection for the African Championships in Porto Novo, where she won bronze despite falling at the water jump. At the Kenyan Olympic Trials, however, she only placed fifth and failed to qualify for the Olympic team.Track & Field News ranked Jepkemoi ninth in the world for 2012, her first top ten ranking.