Kenya’s Faith Cherotich produced a stunning late surge to win the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the 2025 Tokyo World Athletics Championships, setting a Championship Record of 8:51.59.
The 21-year-old, affectionately known as Kadogo or 'small faith' in Kenyan athletics circles because of her diminutive figure and for being among the country’s young women steeplechasers causing storms in the event, delivered a powerful kick after the final hurdle to snatch victory from Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi, who had led for much of the race.
Yavi settled for silver as Cherotich shifted gears in the home stretch to claim her first senior world title.
The win delivered Kenya’s fourth gold medal of the championships and cemented Cherotich’s rising star status on the global stage.
Her time was not only the fastest ever run at the World Championships but also underscored her growing dominance in an event long associated with Kenyan excellence.
Cherotich’s rivalry with Yavi in the women’s 3000m steeplechase can be compared to the close contests pitting Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Canadian Marco Arop in the men’s 800m last season.
This season, Cherotich has not been giving Yavi the space to breathe.
Last month, Cherotich, who is transitioning to the senior ranks in style, proved once again that she was set to exert her dominance in the event after edging Yavi in a hotly contested 3000m steeplechase race at the Oslo Diamond League in Norway.
Cherotich, a rising star, had also stunned Yavi at the Doha meet on May 16 before reaffirming her push to become an authority in the women’s 3000m steeplechase.
At Oslo, she stormed to a 9:02.60 world lead, out-kicking 25-year-old Yavi who closely followed in second place in 9:02:76.
In the race today, Cherotich, who'd earned bronze at the last World Championships and 2024 Olympics, tracked Yavi for most of the way, but then started to kick with half a lap to go, flying over the final water jump to propel herself into the lead.
Cherotich sprinted away to win in a championship record of The 21-year-old, who'd earned bronze at the last World Championships and 2024 Olympics, tracked Yavi for most of the way, but then started to kick with half a lap to go, flying over the final water jump to propel herself into the lead.
Cherotich sprinted away to win in a championship record of 8:51.59, finishing almost five seconds clear of Yavi (8:56.46). Ethiopia's Sembo Almayew took bronze in a PB of 8:58.86., finishing almost five seconds clear of Yavi (8:56.46). Ethiopia's Sembo Almayew took bronze in a PB of 8:58.86.
With her Tokyo triumph, Cherotich is now officially a world champion, a title that marks a turning point in her career and adds to Kenya’s proud middle- and long-distance legacy.
