Kenya’s Faith Cherotich beats defending champion Winfred Yavi as Britain’s Elise Thorner finishes 11th in Tokyo.
Faith Cherotich brought the women’s 3000m steeplechase title back to Kenya for the first time in 2019 as she destroyed Winfred Yavi, the Kenyan-born Bahrain athlete, in the final 150m to win in a championship record of 8:51.59.
Yavi is the reigning world and Olympic champion, but Cherotich kicked away from her on Wednesday (Sept 17).
The 21-year-old is a rising force in the event. Aged 18 she won the world under-20 title in Cali and has since claimed Diamond League titles in addition to bronze at the 2024 Olympics and 2023 World Championships.
“I am so happy to win today,” said Cherotich. “Improving from bronze to gold is amazing to me. I didn’t know how it would go at the start, but I was ready. In the last 400m, I said, ‘This is my moment’. My coach reminded me, ‘Faith, you can do it.’ I believed in myself and it paid off.”
Yavi clocked 8:56.46 in second as Sembo Almayew of Ethiopia was third in 8:58.86.
“Of course, the goal was to win, but I am grateful for this silver,” said Yavi. “In the last 200 metres, I was still strong, but I couldn’t hold the speed. My coach and family’s support kept me focused. I am still young, and I know there are more titles ahead.”
Thorner ran 9:19.02 at the end of a fine season for the Briton. “I went in just to compete like I have done all year, which I definitely did, so I couldn’t have asked for any more,” she said.
“My coach (Helen Clitheroe) said to me just give it your heart and soul, which is what I did.
“I sound a bit disappointed which I think is good as you expect more. I would never have dreamed I would be 11th in the world. We will be back for more.”
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