All the three 2004 Paris Olympic Games women’s 3,000m steeplechase medallists will go head-to-head at Prefontaine Classic on Saturday at the Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA.
Olympic and world champion Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi will want to show her superiority against the woman who won silver in Paris last year Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai and the red-hot Kenyan wonder kid Faith Cherotich who settled for a bronze medal.
Peruth Chemutai of Uganda (second right) crosses the line to win heat 1 of the women's 3,000m Steeplecahse ahead of second place Faith Cherotich of Kenya (second left) and third place Gesa Felicitas Krause of Germany at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France on August 04, 2024.
Photo credit: Sarah Meyssonnier | Reuters
Cherotich, who has hit a rich vein of form, underlined by a world lead 8:53.37 ran at the Paris Diamond League on June 20, will be keen to keep her momentum ahead of the Kenya trials for the World Athletics Championships on August 1-2 in Nairobi.
Also, watch for Kenyan-born Kazakhstan Norah Jeruto who won the 2022 world title raced at Hayward Field.
A world-class field if ever there was one in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase.
Cherotich, 20, is clearly itching for a fight. She confessed that she lost out at the Paris Olympic Games because, even though she had prepared well for the race, she did not then have the confidence to take on the reigning world beaters.
From left: Kenya's Faith Cherotich (bronze), Ethiopia’s Zerfe Wondemagegn (silver), Jackline Chepkoech (gold) pose for a photo after the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase during the World Athletics Under-20 Championships at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani on August 20, 2021.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Now, she presumably has the confidence and indeed ability to become a real world beater.
“I’m going into the race just to gauge my level,” Cherotich simply said. Leading the world rankings in the race with 24 points she certainly is the woman to beat this season.
Cherotich started her season with a photo-finish win at the Doha Diamond League on May 16 in 9:05.08 with Yavi microseconds behind in 9:05.26 as Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew finished third in 9:09.27.
The Kenyan and Kenyan turned Bahraini clashed again at the Oslo Diamond League on June 12. Cherotich made it two out or two wins with a time of 9:02.60 with Yavi finishing second in 9:02.76 while Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani sealed the podium positions in 9:06.84.
The smoking-hot Cherotich retreated to her training base in Kalyet Athletics Camp in Kericho County for eight days before storming to victory in the Paris meet with a world lead as she relegated the experienced Chemutai to second place in another fast time of 8:54.41 with Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew finishing third in 9:01.22.
Faith Cherotich celebrates winning the women's 3,000 metres steeplechase final during the Athletics Kenya Under-20 national trials at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“I used to fear my competitors but since winning the 2024 Diamond League title, I now have the confidence of going for victory,” she said.
Regularly beating an athlete like Yavi, who besides her various world titles, ran an 8:44.39 at last year’s Rome Diamond League meeting, missing the world record held by Kenya’s Beatrice Chepkoech of 8:44.32 by a whisker, places Cherotich at a special place as she build up for this year’s championships.
