Kenya’s rising athletics star, Faith Cherotich, once again proved her dominance on the global stage after successfully defending her 3,000m steeplechase title at the Diamond League Final in Zurich on Thursday night.
The 21-year-old Olympic bronze medallist clocked an impressive 8:57.24 to retain her crown, powering past a strong field that included former world champion Norah Jeruto of Kazakhstan and Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani.
The win marked Cherotich’s second consecutive Diamond League triumph, following her breakthrough performance last year in Brussels where she stunned Olympic champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain and Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai. With Yavi and Chemutai missing from this year’s showdown, Cherotich seized the moment with a performance full of composure and grit.
“This race was part of a bigger plan, and Faith executed it perfectly,” her coach Bernard Rono said.
“We’ve been preparing with full focus on the World Championships in Tokyo. She is disciplined, mentally tough and has the right support system around her. We are optimistic about what’s coming,”he added.
Cherotich’s Zurich victory capped off a stellar season in which she claimed wins in Doha, Oslo and Paris. Her only major setback came at the Prefontaine Classic in Oregon, where Yavi outran her in 8:45.25, leaving the Kenyan to settle for second in 8:48.71. That showdown set the stage for what is expected to be a heated rematch at the upcoming World Championships.
In Zurich, Cherotich had to fend off an aggressive start from Jeruto and Bouzayani, while the American pair of Courtney Wayment and Gabrielle Jennings attempted to keep pace. But the Kenyan displayed maturity beyond her years, surging in the final laps to secure a commanding win.
Adding to her night of glory, Cherotich was named co-recipient of the prestigious Jesse Owens Rising Star Award, an honor that recognizes outstanding young athletes making their mark in world athletics. She shared the accolade with Botswana’s sprint sensation Letsile Tebogo, underlining her place among the sport’s brightest prospects.
Rono, who runs the Kalyet Training Camp in Kipkelion, Kericho County, praised Athletics Kenya and his fellow coaches for their role in sharpening the country’s athletes.
“Zurich was an important test. Now, the focus shifts to Tokyo, where we hope Kenya will shine again on the global stage,” he said.
With back-to-back Diamond League titles and the Jesse Owens Award to her name, Cherotich has cemented her status as one of the most promising young talents in athletics. All eyes will now be on her as she heads to Tokyo in search of yet another career-defining moment.
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