TOKYO2025: Excellent running for Faith Kipyegon to lead Kenya’s quartet into semis
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 13.09.25. | 15:29
She is chasing a historic fourth title, third in a row, after victories in London 2017, Oregon 2022, and Budapest 2023
Three-time world 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon lived up to expectations in the World Championships heats held on Saturday, 13 September, clocking 4:02.55 to cruise to a heat 4 victory.
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Kipyegon is chasing a historic fourth title after victories in London 2017, Oregon 2022, and Budapest 2023. She leads Nelly Chepchirchir, Susan Ejore, and Dorcas Ewoi into the semis.
Racing in heat four, the 31-year-old moved to the front right away, dictating pace early with Laura Muir, Italy’s Marta Zenoni, and Ireland’s Sarah Healy chasing.
She slowed down slightly, allowing Muir to lead momentarily in the second lap, before assuming pole position on the bell and holding on for an easy victory.
With the jostling happening behind, Sarah Madeleine went on to finish behind the world record holder in 4:02.66 as Healy settled for third in 4:02.67.
Despite the slightly slow race, Muir, who had been touted as one of Kipyegon’s likely competitors in the final, failed to hold on, finishing a distant eighth to miss out on the semis.
Meanwhile, racing in heat three, USA-based Ejore registered the quickest time amongst the Kenyans, for a 4:01.99 third-place finish. Her time was also the third quickest overall as her heat produced the top five qualifying times.
#TeamKenya DOMINATES THE TRACK! 🇰🇪
— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) September 13, 2025
Four #TeamKenyan powerhouses ; Faith Kipyegon , Nelly Chepchirchir, Dorcus Ewoi, and Susan Ejore , qualify for the semifinals in the Women's 1500m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo! 🏃♀️👏
Well done Girls🙏#TeamKenya… pic.twitter.com/4au7lvWkxM
She had a good start in the race, moving third after the opening lap. She maintained a steady pace to take the bell in 3:00.63, still in the same position, behind Freweyni Hailu and Canadian Gabriela Debues-Stafford.
Despite a crowded finish, she held her own for a 4:01.99, Hailu taking pole position in 4:01.23, the quickest time in the preliminaries, while USA’s Nikki Hiltz overtook the Kenyan for a second-place 4:01.73 finish.
Elsewhere, Diamond League champion Chepchirchir, a fifth-place finisher from Budapest in 2023, controlled her race to win in 4:07.01, putting herself in prime position for another final berth, where she dreams of first a global medal.
Kenya’s squad in the distance is completed by US-based Dorcas Ewoi, making her debut in the global competition. She ran in the opening heat, clocking 4:04.99 in a heat won by Australia’s Olympic silver medalist and one of the favourites in the final, Jessica Hull, in 4:04.40.
