Beijing, Aug 24 (IANS): Indian middle and long distance runner Lalita Babar continued her impressive run this year to break the national record and qualify for the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase final at the World Athletics Championships here on Monday.

In the heats, Lalita finished her race in nine minutes and 27.86 seconds breaking her previous best, also a national record, of 9:34.13 which she had clocked to clinch the gold at the Asian Championships at Wuhan, China, in June.

There were three heats in Lalita's category. The 26-year-old took part in Heat 2 where she finished fourth. Overall Lalita finished eighth while the heats were topped by Tunisia's Olympic silver medallist Habiba Ghribi (9:24.38).

Lalita, who hails from Satara district of Maharashtra, had also clinched a bronze at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

The summit clash will take place on Wednesday where she will compete against 14 other women at the iconic Bird's Nest.