Faith Cherotich Explains What Gives Her Confidence of Flooring Winfred Yavi for World Championships Gold

Olympics and world 3,000m steeplechase bronze medalist Faith Cherotich is encouraged by the impressive times she has been posting as she looks to win her first gold medal in Tokyo.

Cherotich ran a slower time of 9:09.44 at the Athletics Kenya World Championships trials at Ulinzi Complex in Nairobi on Tuesday although she had already hit the qualifying standard last year.

The 20-year-old says her desire was to see improvements and was delighted that she ran an improved time at a high altitude in Nairobi.

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“I have been struggling in the last two weeks and I did not know I was going to face a high altitude,” she said before expressing confidence in her time of 8:48.71, a personal best, at the Prefontaine Classic early this month.

“Running 8:48 tells me I am capable of making it at the Worlds. I have to prepare so well because we are going to the Worlds. I am going to represent my country. I need to do more workouts and drills to be ready,” added Cherotich.

Cherotich has been playing second fiddle to Olympics and world champion Winfred Yavi but she seems to have mustered how to beat the Kenyan-born-Bahraini as she has floored her twice this season.

She has three Diamond League wins in four outings, the other one being second place, and feels stopping Yavi and all the other rivals for gold at the 2025 World Championships will take a team effort.

“I will sit with the coach and plan well. Last time, I was not prepared but this year, I am more prepared. I know it will be tough but I am ready for them. We will work as a team to ensure we bring the medals home,” she said.

The steeplechase title has eluded Kenyan women since Beatrice Chepkoech won it at the 2019 edition and with the world record holder now struggling with injuries and poor form, the onus is on Cherotich, who will team up with Doris Cherop and Pamela Kosgei in Tokyo.