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Masterful Cherotich claims women’s 3,000m steeplechase gold in Tokyo
Kenya's Faith Cherotich celebrates winning the women's 3000m steeplechase final at Japan National Stadium, Tokyo on September 17, 2025.
Olympic Games women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase bronze medallist Faith Cherotich is now the world champion in the same discipline.
The 21-year-old Cherotich outkicked defending champion Winfred Yavi from Bahrain at the last water jump at the Japan National Stadium and never looked back to hand Kenya their fourth world title in women’s steeplechase in a new championships record of eight minutes and 51.59 seconds.
Gold medallist Kenya's Faith Cherotich celebrates winning the women's 3000m steeplechase final with silver medallist Bahrain's Winfred Yavi and bronze medallist Ethiopia's Sembo Almayew.
Cherotich, who became the youngest athlete to finish top-three in women’s steeplechase at the world championships when she settled for bronze in 2023 Budapest erased the previous championship record of 8:53.02 set by Kenyan-turned-Kazakhstani Norah Jeruto at the 2022 Eugene world championship.
Faith Cherotich crosses the finish line to win the women's 3000m steeplechase final at Japan National Stadium, Tokyo, on September 17, 2025.
Yavi, the 2024 Paris Olympic champion, after putting in a hard run in the last 600m could not respond to Cherotich’s deadly shift in pace in the last 200m and had to settle for silver in 8:56.46 as Ethiopia Almayew Sembo took bronze in 8:58.86.
Micah Chemos won the first title for Kenya at the 2013 Moscow event before Hyvin Kiyeng coasted to victory at 2015 Beijing before Beatrice Chepkoech won in 2019 Doha.
Minutes later, Kenya claimed a bronze medal in men’s 1,500m via Reynold Cheruiyot in a time of 3:34.25.
Portugal’s Isaac Nader won the race in 3:34.10, followed by Jake Wightman of Great Britian in 3:34.25.
Veteran Timothy Cheruiyot, who led for the greater part of the race, faded to finish fourth in 3:34.50.
