Kenyan steeplechase runner
Norah Jeruto Tanui (Kazakh: Нора Джеруто Тануй, born 2 October 1995[1]) is a Kazakhstani (formerly Kenyan) long-distance runner specialising in the steeplechase. She won the gold medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2022 World Championships, becoming the first athlete representing Kazakhstan to win a title at the World Athletics Championships and setting a championship record in the process. Jeruto took gold in the event at the 2016 African Championships in Athletics.
She was the 2021 Diamond League 3000 m steeplechase champion. Currently Jeruto is an athlete of Altay Athletics club (professional track and field club) in Kazakhstan.
Career
Her international debut came at the 2011 African Cross Country Championships, where she placed sixth in the junior race to complete a Kenyan sweep of the top six.[2] She ran the third fastest time ever for the 2000 metres steeplechase at the 2011 World Youth Championships in Athletics, recording 6:16.41 minutes to take the gold in spite of a heavy fall at the waterjump.[3][4] Later that year she claimed the steeplechase title at the 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games, as well as a bronze in the 3000 metres flat.[5] She missed out on selection for the 2012 World Junior Championships in Athletics.[6]
She set a 3000 metres steeplechase best of 9:45.1 minutes at age fifteen, but struggled to improve on that in subsequent seasons.[7] She was selected for Kenya's junior team at the 2015 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, but did not compete.[8]
After a runner-up performance at the Kenyan Athletics Championships, setting a best of 9:28.5 minutes behind Lydia Rotich, Jeruto made her senior international debut at the 2016 African Championships in Athletics.[9] A personal best run of 9:25.07 minutes at the competition brought her the steeplechase gold medal and a championship record.[10]
Despite her ranking, she didn't participate at 2020 Tokyo Olympics, because she was still waiting for her allegiance to Kazakhstan which she has obtained on 30 January 2022.[1]
2022–present
On May 28, 2022, at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon (third stop of the Diamond League) she ran the third fastest time ever by a woman at the 3000m steeplechase in 8.57.98. setting a world lead. She could've shaved half a second of that time as she thought she crossed the line 2–3 meters before the actual finish line.
On 20 July, she became the first athlete representing Kazakhstan to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships, establishing a new championship and national record of 8:53.02 in the process at the same Hayward Field in Eugene.[11]
In April 2023, she was provisionally suspended by the Athletics Integrity Unit for the use of an unidentified prohibited substance/method from her biological passport (ABP) data.[12] After an investigation that found no case to answer, the suspension was lifted in November 2023.[13]
World champions in women's 3000 m steeplechase
African Champions in women's 3000 metres steeplechase
World Youth Champions in women's 2000 metres steeplechase
Diamond League champions in women's 3000 metres steeplechase
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