By Robert Kibet
Kenya’s dominance in distance running continues to rise, as a new generation of young athletes makes their mark on the global stage, among them Faith Cherotich who stunned fans with a commanding win in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase at last weekend’s Doha Diamond League.
Cherotich’s victory signals her growing prowess in a highly competitive field. Her coach, Bernard Rono, revealed that she will be skipping the Sixth Absa Kip Keino Classic on May 31, choosing instead to focus on the Oslo Diamond League meeting on June 12.
“Cherotich used to struggle with the water jumps, but we’ve worked hard to improve that aspect in training. The confidence she’s showing now is encouraging. Her win is a direct result of consistent, focused preparation,” Rono told Pura Vida Sports Africa in an interview.
In the heat of the Doha Diamond League at Suleiman Bin Hamad Stadium, Cherotich ran like a woman on a mission. Her stride, a graceful dance of grit and rhythm, carried her past seasoned giants, including the formidable and experienced Olympic champion Winfred Yavi to clinch the title in a commanding nine minutes, 05.49 seconds.
Diamond League Points
Buoyed by her dominant performance in Doha, Cherotich has opted to chase Diamond League points at the Bislett Games in Oslo.
At only 19, she isn’t just chasing medals, she’s torching a trail for a new generation. “Faith is special,” said Barnaba Korir, Athletics Kenya’s youth development director. “She’s proof that the flame we lit years ago is now blazing.”
“I was not expecting to win, but I thank God for the victory. The pace was tough, and at one point around the 200m mark, I almost gave up. However, I realized I have a strong finishing kick, and I pushed through to the end. This is something I will continue to work on,” said Cherotich.
She added that the race felt as challenging as the Olympic or World Championships. Reflecting on her medal win at the Paris Olympics, Cherotich said it motivated her to train harder. Now, her focus is fully on preparing for the Tokyo World Championships.
The 5,000m Flame
Not far behind was Reynold Cheruiyot, whose switch from the 1,500m to the 5,000m has been nothing short of seamless. In Doha, he struck gold with a time of 13:16.40, unleashing a final-lap fury that stunned his rivals.
“Reynold is the real deal,” Korir told Pura Vida Sports Africa. “He’s becoming a lion in long distance.”
“The 5,000m pace suited me well. I decided to stay in the middle of the pack until the last 400m, then kicked hard like a true 1500m specialist,” said the Under-20 world champion. “The Kenyan athletes in Doha inspired me to run fast. At one point, when I started to slow down, I heard the crowd chanting my name — ‘Cheruiyot, Cheruiyot’ — and that gave me the strength to push,” said Cheruiyot in an interview.
He added that while his focus for Tokyo is the 1,500m, he is seriously considering doubling in both the 5,000m and 1,500m, noting that the longer race increasingly plays to his strengths. “I want to thank Kenyans for their support, it means everything,” he said.
Steeplechase from Sticks and Soil
Back home, innovation is brewing in rural Kenya. In areas like Kalyet training camp that bred the vibrant Cherotich, and Lemotit, both in Kericho, one of Kenya’s leading tea-growing highlands, local coaches, including Rono, have replaced fancy hurdles with wooden logs and trenches, crafting world-beaters out of bare essentials.
“It’s amazing what they’re doing with so little,” Korir marveled. “And the results are clear. These athletes are learning to hurdle life itself.”
Masalela Roars for Botswana
In the men’s 800m in Doha, the lion came from the south. Tshepiso Masalela of Botswana stormed past a stacked field to win in 1:43.32, reviving memories of Nijel Amos, the 2012 Olympic silver medallist who once chased David Rudisha’s shadow into history.
Masalela’s triumph wasn’t just a win, it was a war cry from a nation rising in the middle-distance ranks.
Masalela, who landed in Doha on the morning of race day, wasn’t too pleased seeing the Kenyans take an early lead. But he held back, focused on steadying his breath and maintaining composure. Then, right when it mattered, he surged forward with power and precision, finishing strong, just as he had planned.
“I knew I was ready, even though I arrived around 5 a.m.,” he said. “I told myself, I’m ready. I’ve been working on my mental game, ensuring everything is in place. The training sessions have been solid. We’re getting better with each one. So I said, let’s go and race. Forget about when I got here. Everyone has excuses. I came to compete,” he told an interviewer after the win.
Kenya’s Steeple Kingdom Rebuilding
Korir remains hopeful, his eyes set on the horizon where a new wave of steeplechasers is gathering force. Edmund Serem and Amos Serem are, he says, are rising like storm clouds over the track—young, fierce, and unrelenting.
“We’re on track to reclaim our steeple crown,” he declares with quiet conviction, as if Kenya’s throne in the water-jump kingdom is merely on a brief loan.
He also fondly recalls the early promise of Nelly Jepchirchir, once a spark too young to blaze on the global stage. “She was only 15 when she burst onto the under-20s 800m scene. We had to hold her back then—rules are rules—but look at her now,” Korir said, a proud smile tugging at his words like a coach watching a long-nurtured dream take flight.
Yego’s Throwback, Fight Forward
And then there was Julius Yego, the self-made javelin thrower who once learned his craft from YouTube. In Doha, his comeback after six months out was met with a calm determination, with a throw of 78.52 metres.
India’s Neeraj Chopra and Germany’s winner Julian Weber joined the 90-metre club with amazing throws of 90.23m and 91.06m, respectively.
“I knew the rust would be there,” Yego told Pura Vida Sports Africa. “But now that’s behind me. I can feel big throwing brewing in my body. It’s just a matter of when.”
He’s eyeing the Kip Keino Classic as his launchpad. “It’s the moment to throw big. But my rhythm isn’t back yet, javelin is all about rhythm and run-up.”
Yego blamed poor facilities for his challenges. “We don’t have proper tartan runways in Eldoret or Nairobi. Grass just doesn’t cut it. That’s the truth.”
“I’ve given my javelin spikes to kids across Kenya,” he said. “Without spikes, you can’t throw. Javelins cost over Sh130,000 (US$100). I broke mine recently and had to buy two more this year.”
His tone sharpened. “Field events in Kenya get no support, none. That’s the reality. All we hear is talk. Nothing tangible. I’m not tired. I’ve still got years in me. My only fear is who comes after me.”
Kip Keino Classic: More Than a Meet
The Kip Keino Classic will be more than just a meet. It’s a pulse check for the continent.
“Kenyans need to realise this is also about tourism, about enterprise,” said a passionate Korir. “Where else can you run in a stadium, then go see lions in a national park right in the capital?”
From steeplechasers leaping over mud trenches to javelin throwers battling for space and spikes, Africa is not just racing, it’s rewriting its story.
In every corner, a quiet storm is brewing. In every stride, a promise. In every throw, a fight.
As the road to Tokyo 2025 unfolds, one truth rings loud and clear: Africa is rising, and it’s coming for the podium.
Robert Kibet is a freelance journalist based in Nairobi, Kenya. He previously worked as a correspondent for Milele FM. His feature stories on development, the climate crisis, the environment, conflict, human rights, food security, and education have been published in The Guardian UK, Reuters, IPS, DW, The New Humanitarian, and Equal Times.
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