Kenyan-born Ruth Jebet produced an astonishing piece of front running to win Bahrain's first Olympic gold when she claimed the women's 3000m steeplechase on Monday.

Jebet timed an Asian record of 8min 59.75sec, missing out on the world record by less than a second.

Reigning world champion Hyvin Kiyeng Jepkemoi of Kenya took silver in 9:07.12, with American Emma Coburn claiming bronze (9:07.63).

"I'm happy to be a gold medallist, it was my first attempt to have a medal and I'm happy," said Jebet.

"Today it was too hot for the athletes, it was not easy to run a good time but I tried my best and the track is good.

"Yesterday I saw the new record in the 400m (by Wayde van Niekerk) and in the 10,000m also a new world record so I thought why not a world record for me."

Chebet said Bahraini team officials had been confident she could medal.

"It's the first gold medal for Bahrain," she said.

"They saw how I ran in the Diamond League and how I did there, and they told me when I was coming that 'we're sure of you, you're going to have a medal'."