Kenya's Beatrice Chepkoech in the steeplechase at the IAAF World Championships London 2017 (© Getty Images)
After taking a whopping eight seconds off the world record this year with 8:44.32 at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Monaco, Beatrice Chepkoech will start as the favourite in Ostrava.
Since then, the Kenyan has taken the African and IAAF Diamond League titles, bettering nine minutes in both races.
World silver medallist Courtney Frerichs of the US looks to be the best of the rest, having set a North American record of 9:00.85 behind Chepkoech's world record in Monaco.
Winfred Yavi of Bahrain, just 18 years old, is the Asian Games champion and world U20 bronze medallist. With a best of 9:10.74, she is another candidate for a top placing.
Aisha Praught Leer of Jamaica is also a woman in form, having recently improved the Caribbean record to 9:14.09 in Brussels.
The second African representative will be Woynshet Ansa of Ethiopia, fourth at this year's African Championships. The top European in the field is Anna Emilie Moller, the Danish record-holder with 9:31.66 this year.
Pawel Jackowski for the IAAF
