Winfred Yavi Strikes Meeting Record to Deny Faith Cherotich in Lausanne Diamond League

Olympic champion Winfred Yavi stormed to victory in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Diamond League Meeting in Lausanne, clocking a Meeting Record of 9:00.04.

Kenya’s Faith Cherotich finished a close second in 9:01.90, while Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani completed the podium in 9:05.55.

Cherotich made an aggressive start, taking control of the pace early in the race. By the 1200m mark, the Kenyan remained at the front of a tightly packed leading group that included Yavi and Bouzayani.

Yavi moved into the lead after the 1600m mark, with Cherotich tracking closely in second as the battle at the front intensified.

Cherotich regained the lead as the athletes passed the 2000m mark, by which point the front pack had been reduced to just five runners.

The race came down to a thrilling final lap, with Yavi making a decisive move as she powered towards the finish.

Cherotich was unable to match the Olympic champion's finishing kick, and despite clearing the final barrier, Yavi pulled clear to secure the victory in a new Meeting Record of 9:00.04.

Speaking after the race, Winfred Yavi expressed her delight with the victory, explaining that she felt a little nervous before the race but remained determined to secure the win.

Yavi said her focus was firmly on getting to the finish line first, while the energy from the Lausanne crowd added to the experience. The Olympic champion also highlighted how much she enjoyed the support from the spectators throughout the race.

With the victory and meeting record under her belt, the Olympic champion said she is now looking ahead to her upcoming competitions with confidence and excitement.

"I'm very happy. At the start, I was a bit windy, and I was hungry to win when I crossed the finish line. I enjoyed the support of the public, and I am looking forward to the next competitions," Winfred Yavi said.

On her part, Faith Cherotich said, "I'm happy about my race today in Lausanne, now my next stop is to compete in Zurich."

Despite battling an injury early in the season, Faith Cherotich delivered a remarkable start to her 2026 campaign.

The reigning world champion opened her season in China with top-three finishes, placing second in Shaoxing/Keqiao (8:51.48) and third in Xiamen (8:52.53).

Her resilience paid off at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, where she claimed victory in a world-leading time of 8:51.74.

Before heading to Lausanne, Faith Cherotich capped off her impressive form by capturing the gold medal at the XXIII Commonwealth Games in Glasgow with a time of 9:01.76.