Race switch, trust and sticking to basics: Ewoi's ingredients to memorable World Championships silver medal

When Dorcus Ewoi made a decision to ditch the 800 for 1500m earlier this year, she only did it to give her a better chance at making it to a global championships final.

The 28-year-old, based in North Carolina, had been hell-bent on running over two-laps, before approaching her coach with an idea of switching up permanently to the 1500m, which would offer her more wiggle room to excel.

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“800m is more of a quick event,” Ewoi said of her thinking behind the switch. “You only have two laps, and there is no room for mistakes. So I was like if I moved to the 1500m, I could survive. I could get to the final, and that would take care of itself.”

Months down the line, all that she had drawn in her mind came true.

Having come through in third place at the Kenyan 1500m Trials in July, Ewoi did the unthinkable by qualifying to the World Athletics Championships final on Sunday, 14 September, celebrating the feat with so much grace.

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As per her script, a spot in her first major championship final meant zero pressure, but not even herself would have imagined winning silver at Tokyo’s National Stadium, and with a new personal best time of 3:54.92 to go with it.

“The point was all to make it to the final, and then putting myself in it, and seeing what was going to happen,” an elated Ewoi said after her race on Tuesday night.

Aware of her lack of experience, the Kenyan, at best, expected to better her previous personal best of 3:59.25, only for events to unfold in her favour.

“My coach was telling me: Just go there Dorcus, be happy, you made it all the way here, you are healthy, just push yourself, do not push too hard, and enjoy your moment,” Ewoi said. “So for me it was all about moving.”

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Move and trust she did, and it was with 200m left in fourth place, when she realized a podium place was on the cards.

On events at the last stretch of the race, she said: “I did not think I could get Nelly (Chepchirchir) or Jess (Hull), but I had to push all the way to the line. After all, if I could not get a medal, I could still have gotten a huge PB.”

For Ewoi, it was all about basics.

“I just pushed the final 150m like I normally do with high knees, and just moved on,” she said.

Within time, she was past the two ahead of her, and there was the image of her collapsing to the track after crossing the line behind the legendary Faith Kipyegon.

“I feel so blessed,” Ewoi said. “This was like a single tough workout, it is incredible. The work I put in everyday counts.”