Faith Cherotich Sends Clear Message to Winfred Yavi Ahead of Tokyo Showdown

Faith Cherotich ready to dethrone Winfred Yavi

Faith Cherotich Sends Clear Message to Winfred Yavi Ahead of Tokyo Showdown

Abigael Wafula 10:00 - 13.06.2025

After back-to-back wins over Winfred Yavi, Faith Cherotich has hinted at something even bigger this season.

Faith Cherotich has opened up about how her back-to-back victories over Olympic champion Winfred Yavi have inspired her to go for the world title at the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September.

The Olympic 3000m steeplechase bronze medallist started her 2025 season with a win over Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi at the Diamond League Meeting in Doha, clocking a world-leading time of 9:05.08.

She proceeded to claim the win over the distance at the Diamond League Meeting in Oslo, beating Winfred Yavi yet again as she improved her world-leading time to 9:02.60.

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Faith Cherotich: I Want to Win the World Title

Faith Cherotich
Faith Cherotich

Faith Cherotich believes that after her dominant display at the Diamond League Meeting in Oslo, she is now ready to go for the world title.

The 20-year-old pointed out that she is aware of the tough opposition awaiting her, but she believes in her ability to dethrone Winfred Yavi.

Faith Cherotich expressed her readiness to fight for the title, revealing that she must come out with a different medal than she won at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, a bronze.

Cherotich added that she will be going to work hard in training and put in extra effort in her bid to reclaim Kenya’s steeplechase glory.

“I have been running here before, and I know that the atmosphere is always really good, so I was looking forward to this competition. My target for this season is to win the world title, but also, I want to run good races,” Faith Cherotich revealed.

“For now, I need to do well in my training and keep running well towards the world championships. There are many of us who have the same ambitions. But I am going to fight, and I will do my best to achieve my goal. It will be a different result this time in Tokyo.”

Faith Cherotich: I'm At My Best

Faith Cherotich
Faith Cherotich

Faith Cherotich revealed that having gained experience at such a young age has helped her understand the art of steeplechase.

She believes that competing in the junior category, where she won the steeplechase title at the 2022 World Under-20 Championships, helped her believe in her abilities, and she remains unshaken.

“You know, I have still been a junior coming to these events. But now, I am at my best. I have something to build on,” Faith Cherotich said.

“When I was running these junior championships, I gained my confidence, and I started to believe in myself. So now, I can build on it.”

Following her two dominant Diamond League races, Faith Kipyegon has proven to be unstoppable, as she sets her sights on her major target of the season.