World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech showed her intention by assuming the lead 50 metres into the race. She proceeded to bang out 72 second laps confident she could burn off any competition. And it worked. Over the next six laps, one by one, they fell off the back, except one. Winfred Yavi refused to go away. Coming in to the bell, Yavi pulled next to Chepkoech. After the bell, Yavi pulled away, slowly, steadily. Yavi jumped the water jump barrier without touching it, she exited faster, looked back over her shoulder to make sure. It was clear would no challenge would be coming. By the time Yavi reached the finish line, Chepkoech was over 20 metres back. Faith Cherotich, the last to fall off the pace was the next to finish to collect bronze.
Yavi's time 8:54.29 was the fifth fastest of all time. Chepkoech had run two superior times, making Yavi the #4 performer of all time. Cherotich became #12. Fifth place Alice Finot became #19 and sixth place Maruša Mišmaš-Zrimšek became #20.
Records
Before the competition records were as follows:[2]