Shanghai DL: Peruth Chemutai shatters meet record as Faith Cherotich clocks season best
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 16.05.26. | 16:51
Cherotich was equally impressive, pushing Chemutai all the way to the line in one of the season’s most intense duels
Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai produced a masterclass performance to win the women’s 3,000m steeplechase at the Shanghai Diamond League on Saturday, 16 May, setting a new meeting record and world lead after a dramatic sprint finish against Kenya’s Faith Cherotich.
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Chemutai crossed the line in 8:51.47 in a race that went down to the final metre. In the process, she eclipsed the previous meeting record of 9:07.36 set by Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet in April 2024.
The Paris Olympic silver medallist led from the front and held her nerve in the closing stages to secure victory in style.
Cherotich was equally impressive, pushing Chemutai all the way to the line in one of the season’s most intense duels.
The youngster, who holds a personal best of 8:48.71, settled for second place but still delivered a season-best 8:51.48, missing out on victory by just a fraction of a second.
Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani completed the podium in 8:58.09 after a strong and consistent run.
8:51.47!!🔥
— Track & Field Gazette (@TrackGazette) May 16, 2026
World Lead ☑️
Meet Record ☑️
Peruth Chemutai 🇺🇬 managed to hold on to win the women's 3000mSc at the Shanghai Diamond League, after celebrating early.
She ran 8:51.47 to beat World Champion Faith Cherotich 🇰🇪 in 8:51.48.
Marwa Bouzayani 🇹🇳 broke ground to a… pic.twitter.com/sLlZXlKZMF
The race opened with Firehiwot Gesese briefly setting the pace on the first lap before Chemutai asserted control in the second circuit. Cherotich quickly responded, moving into contention as the leading pack began to break away.
By the 1,600m mark, the race had evolved into a two-woman battle between Chemutai and Cherotich, with Bouzayani holding third and Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto sitting fourth.
At 2,400m, Chemutai still led narrowly, with Cherotich shadowing her stride for stride. As the bell rang with 400m to go, the intensity surged, and Cherotich began to close the gap.
In the final 100m, the Kenyan appeared to be gaining momentum, but Chemutai refused to yield. The Ugandan dug deep to hold off the late charge, sealing victory in a photo finish and confirming her dominance with a new meet record and world-leading time.
Meanwhile, in the 800m men's race, Wycliffe Kinyamal faded to seventh place in a season best of 1:44:61 in a race won by Ireland’s Mark English (1:43:85).