OregonGoldRush | Steeplechaser Norah Jeruto plunges into water after gold at worlds
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Steeplechaser Norah Jeruto came up with a cool way to celebrate her victory at the end of a sizzling hot day at the world championships.
A pool party. Everyone was invited, too.
The Kenyan-born runner who recently began representing Kazakhstan moved to the backstretch following her win Wednesday and took the plunge — straight into the event's water pit.
A moment later, the Jeruto was joined by her two Ethiopian competitors, runner-up Werkuha Getachew and bronze medallist Mekides Abbe. Not wanting to be left out, Legend, the mascot for these championships, jumped in, too.
Jeruto finished in a championship-record 8 minutes, 53.02 seconds to hold off Getachew by 1.59 seconds.
“The weather was good here. I enjoyed my race today,” Jeruto said.
“At the starting line, I was afraid of my friends from Ethiopia. They are also champions like me so I was scared of them. I tried my best to win the race and it was not easy. It was tough.”
It was a tough day for Emma Coburn, a two-time world medallist in the event who faded late and finished eighth.
“Disappointing,” Coburn said.
“I went for it and it didn't pay off.”
It was a warm one at Hayward Field with temperatures hovering around 91 degrees Fahrenheit (33 Celsius). To stay cool, many athletes donned ice vests before competing, wore sunglasses while racing and wrapped cold towels around their shoulders when finished.
But Jeruto may have had the best solution — go for a swim and splash around.
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