Athletics-Jeruto stuns steeplechase heats after champion Chepkoech withdraws

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Women's 3000 Metres Steeplechase - Heats - Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, U.S. - July 16, 2022 Kazakhstan's Norah Jeruto in action during the women's 3000 metres steeplechase REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson

EUGENE, Ore. (Reuters) - Kazakhstan's Norah Jeruto blitzed the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase heats at the World Championships on Saturday, an event left wide open after reigning champion and world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech pulled out with injury.

The 2021 Diamond League winner Jeruto, who previously represented Kenya, comfortably strode across the finish to produce the fastest time of the day by more than nine seconds.