Timothy Cheruiyot Clarifies Future as Distance Switch Rumours Grow

Former Olympic 1500m silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot has confirmed he is not rushing to transition to longer distances, stating that the metric mile remains his primary focus.

While many followers anticipated a full move to the 5000m and 10,000m by 2026, Cheruiyot clarified that these events currently serve to build his strength and endurance.

"I am still in the 1500m, and then I will test a little bit in the 5000m and 10,000m," he explained as quoted by Citizen Digital, emphasising that any potential shift will be a gradual process.

The 30-year-old believes that expanding his racing portfolio will enhance his tactical and physical capabilities without compromising his status as one of Kenya's premier middle-distance runners.

His 2025 season was a mix of resilience and near-victories against top-tier international competition. He began his global campaign with a sixth-place finish at the Grand Slam Track, running the 1500m in 3:35.61.

One of his standout performances came at the Meeting de Rome, where he secured second place with a time of 3:29.75, narrowly behind Azeddine Habz (3:29.72).

Cheruiyot also narrowly missed the podium at the Oslo Bislett Games, finishing fourth in the Mile in 3:49.06, and later placed seventh at the Prefontaine Classic with a time of 3:47.71.

He concluded his Diamond League season on a high note, claiming second at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Silesia (3:33.35) and fourth at the Weltklasse Zürich (3:30.13).

Earlier this year, Cheruiyot signalled his strong form at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour on February 14. He finished third in a fiercely contested men's 2km race with a time of 5:54, just behind compatriots Reynold Cheruiyot (5:52) and Daniel Munguti (5:54).

Hailing from Singorwet village in Bomet County, Cheruiyot's international breakthrough occurred at the 2015 World Relays in the Bahamas, which was his first race abroad and his first time on an aeroplane.

His illustrious career includes a 2019 World Championship title in Doha, a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships in London, five Diamond League trophies, and two Commonwealth Games silver medals.