Olympic bronze medallist Faith Cherotich will be the athlete to watch when she toes the line in Zurich on Thursday, bidding to defend her Diamond League Final trophy in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Last year in Brussels, the 21-year-old produced a commanding 9:02.36 to claim her maiden Diamond League crown. She fended off Olympic champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain (9:02.87) and Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai (9:07.60).
That triumph came hot on the heels of her breakthrough bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she clocked 8:55.15 behind Yavi (8:52.76) and Chemutai (8:53.34). Cherotich’s consistency throughout the 2025 season has underlined her growing stature in the water-and-barriers event.
The 21-year-old kicked off her Diamond League campaign with a dominant display in Doha, clinching victory in 9:05.08.She led Yavi (9:05.26) and Ethiopia's Sembo Almayew (9:09.27) to the podium.
Cherotich followed it up with yet another masterclass in Oslo, winning in 9:02.60, leaving Yavi (9:02.76) and Tunisia's Marwa Bouzayani (9:06.84) in her wake.
On June 20, Cherotich secured her third Diamond League circuit victory in Paris, storming to a then world-leading time of 8:53.37. Cherotich (8:54.41) and Almayew (9:01.22) secured second and third place.
The only blemish for the youngster in her 2025 campaign was during the Prefontaine meeting, where Yavi secured her first victory over Cherotich, winning in 8:45.25. Cherotich placed second in 8:48.71 with Chemutai in third place, clocking 8:51.77.
Back home, the Kenyan prodigy reaffirmed her dominance by winning the World Championships trials at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in 9:09.44. She led NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) champion Doris Lemngole (9:24.69) and Caren Chebet (9:34.91).
Cherotich now spearheads Kenya’s Tokyo-bound squad alongside Lemngole and double NCAA champion Pamela Kosgei. With Zurich serving as her final tune-up, Cherotich is banking on her sparkling form and invaluable big-stage experience.
"My target is to sit down with my coach so we can plan on how I will come back home with a medal," Cherotich said in the recent interview. In Budapest 2023, Cherotich secured her first senior global medal when she clocked 9:00.69 for bronze, finishing behind Yavi (8:54.29) and compatriot Beatrice Chepkoech (8:58.98).
Despite her confidence, she acknowledged the fierce competition she will face in Tokyo. "I am well prepared this year, although it will be tough," she added. Cherotich noted that teamwork would be key for a Kenyan podium sweep in Tokyo. "We will work as a team to ensure we bring back more medals home," she said.
In Zurich, she will duel with a stacked field that includes 2022 World Champion Norah Jeruto of Kazakhstan, Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani and American Gabrielle Jennings.
