- Kenya’s Faith Cherotich wins first gold in the World Championships after beating defending champion Winfred Yavi.
- She clocked a championship record of 8:51.69 in the process.
- She also became the youngest world champion over the distance.
Kenya’s Faith Cherotich claimed her first gold medal in the women’s world 3000 metres steeplechase in some style as she smashed the championship record in the Tokyo World Athletics Championships 2025 on Wednesday evening.
After playing second fiddle for a major part of the race, Cherotich timed her finish to perfection as she kicked to the world title in a championship record of 8:51.69, finishing ahead of Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi and Ethiopia’ Sembo Almayew.
She erased the previous championship record of 8:53.02 set by Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto back in the Eugene World Championship in 2022.
The result saw her improve on the bronze medal she collected in the Budapest World Championships in 2023, as she also made history by becoming the youngest world champion over the distance.
It was Kenya’s fourth gold medal in Tokyo after Beatrice Chebet, Peres Jepchirchir and Faith Kipyegon’s historic gold medal in the 1500m.
ALSO READ: Beatrice Chebet wins Kenya’s first gold in Tokyo World Championships 2025
Kenyan-born Bahrain international Yavi, who was the defending champion, looked primed for the race win but a late stumble in the closing stages and Cherotich’s well-executed race left her to settle for silver after clocking 8:56.46 as Almayew managed bronze in a personal best of 8.58.86.
More to follow…