Cherotich focused on Tokyo title after dominant start to DL season

Paris Olympic bronze medalist Faith Cherotich has her sights firmly set on ruling the World in Tokyo later in September, remaining steadfast in her quest, despite the massive attention on her rivalry with the current champion. 

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Cherotich has destroyed her closest competitor in the 3000m women's steeplechase, Kenyan born Bahraini, Olympic champion Winfred Yavi, who won the 2023 title in Budapest, denying World Record holder Beatrice Chepkoech and Cherotich, in their last two meetings. 

The former World U20 champion delivered a stunning performance to win the Oslo Diamond League (DL) in a meet record time of 9:02.60 on Thursday, 12 June in Norway. The victory saw her shave over two seconds off her Doha time of 9:05.08.

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Yavi, who clocked a season’s best of 9:02.76, settled for second, just like she did in Doha. 

"It was a good race. I am happy to have been invited to run in Norway and getting a world lead. I am going on well with my preparations, and I just want to run well in the lead up to the World Championships," she said after the race. 

Cherotich, who leads the Diamond League standings with eight points, one more than Yavi, made her debut in the World Championships in 2023, clocking a then personal best (PB) of 9:00.69 for bronze. 

The next year she clocked her now PB of 8:55.15 for bronze at the Paris Olympics, again losing to Yavi as Uganda's Peruth Chemutai, who was out to defend her title from Tokyo, placed second. 

In Doha, Cherotich, who was making her Diamond League debut this season snatched the title from her former countrywoman and doubled down with her second world lead in Norway. 

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"It felt like a great start to the season since it is still young," Yavi said after her second place finish in Doha. "I am looking forward to a great title defense in Tokyo." And with that the stage for this rivalry was set. 

True to her words, it still is early days and the scene could change dramatically. World record holder Chepkoech is yet to race the distance this season on the international stage while Jackline Chepkoech, the Commonwealth Games has continued to struggle, Team Kenya's hope for dominance in Tokyo could be squarely on 'Faith Kadogo'.