TOKYO2025: Faith Cherotich conquers rich field to end Kenya’s six-year 3,000m steeplechase drought
Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 17.09.25. | 16:44
Cherotich had hinted at her brilliance two years ago when she bagged bronze at the 2023 edition of the championships in Budapest
Faith Cherotich etched her name into history on Wednesday, 17 September, after winning the women’s 3000m steeplechase final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
The 21-year-old produced a sensational late surge, clocking 8:51.59 to claim Kenya’s first world title in the event since 2019.
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Her triumph also makes her the fourth Kenyan woman to ever win the steeplechase world crown, joining; Milcah Chemos (2013), Hyvin Kiyeng (2015), and record holder Beatrice Chepkoech (2019).
Cherotich had hinted at her brilliance two years ago when she bagged bronze at the 2023 edition of the championships in Budapest.
This time, she showed maturity and composure, executing her race plan to perfection against a stacked field that included 2020 Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai, defending champion and Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, and former champion Norah Jeruto.
The race began with Chemutai dictating the early pace at 1300m, closely shadowed by Yavi and Cherotich.
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Jeruto, now representing Kazakhstan, stayed with the leading pack while Kenya’s Doris Lemngole ran in sixth.
By 2000m, Yavi and Jeruto were trading leads with Cherotich patiently sitting in third, conserving her energy as the contest reached its decisive stages.
With less than a kilometer to go, the battle crystallized between Yavi, Jeruto, and Cherotich.
At 2600m, Cherotich powered into second, pushing Jeruto back as fatigue began to show on the former champion.
With the Kenyan crowd on its feet, Cherotich summoned her trademark kick at the penultimate barrier, surging past Yavi to open a commanding gap.
![Peres Jepchirchir receives rousing reception after clinching gold in Tokyo [VIDEO]](https://cdn3.mozzartsport.co.ke/upload/825x464/News/Image/2025_09/1758093566925_1665918349017_1640261085379_1628296459862_PERES_edited.jpg)
She never looked back, sprinting across the line to an eruption of cheers, as Yavi, who had beaten her at the Paris Olympics, settled for silver in 8:56.46.
Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew produced a personal best of 8:58.86 to clinch bronze, while Lemngole impressed with a fifth-place finish in 9:02.39.
