Kenya’s fast-rising star Faith Cherotich produced a remarkable performance on Saturday night to win the 2024 Diamond League title in Brussels, Belgium.
The 20-year-old ran a tactical race to bag the prestigious accolade in the women’s 3000 metre steeplechase after finishing first in 9:02.36. She was closely followed by the 2024 Paris Olympic Games gold medalist Winfred Mutile Yavi and Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai.
Yavi, who switched her allegiance from Kenya to Bahrain, clocked 9:02.87 while Chemutai crossed the finishing line in 9:07.60.
The duo took time after the epic race to congratulate Cherotich for achieving the incredible feat – the maiden title of her promising career.
Speaking during the post-race interview, a delighted Cherotich thanked everyone who has supported her this year.
“Today I said let me run my race because it was a strong team. I had a feeling it might be my day to win. I tried my best and fortunately, I thank God for becoming a winner.
I am very happy because it is my first time winning the final Diamond League and my prayer was to win. I would like to thank my coach, teammates, parents and all my fans,” she ended.
Faith Cherotich celebrates after winning
The Kenyan youngster, who recently graduated to the senior category is expected to receive $30,000 (approximately Ksh 3,864,000) for securing the title.
Yavi and Chemutai will also not return home empty hand since they will each receive a prize money of 12,000 (approximately Ksh1, 548,000) and $7,000 (approximately Ksh 903,000) from the organizers.
Cherotich’s victory ensured both the men’s and women’s 3000m steeplechase trophies went to Kenya.
On Fridau, Amos Serem, another runner backed by most fans to dominate the discipline in the near future, clinched the men’s title in some impressive fashion.
Serem outpaced Morocco’s Soufiane El Bakkali and Tunisia’s Mohamed Amin Jhinaoui to triumph in the hotly contested race.
ALSO READ: SportPesa launch revolutionary Tujiamini Initiative to nurture talent
Tujiamini is an initiative that seeks to provide a platform, including up to 30M shillings in funding, for individual, team sports and various talent, in a year-long campaign that will go around the country in a move aimed at evoking the sense of pride in Kenya’s sports and talent ecosystem.
Applicants are urged to submit their applications through www.tujiamini.co.ke