Zurich Diamond League: The Kenyan Stars in Line for Ksh3.8 Million Prize at Season Finale

The 2025 Diamond League season will conclude with the finals in Zurich this week and a number of Kenyan athletes will be contesting the Ksh3.8 million on offer.

The Diamond League final payout is higher than the series meetings and winners of each discipline will each pocket $30,000 (Ksh3.8 million) in the Swiss city on Wednesday and Thursday.

Kenyan athletes are among those set to contest various events although Africa’s fastest man Ferdinand Omanyala is set to miss out after pulling out of the event due to an injury.

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Olympics champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi will be the only Kenyan athlete in the 800m at the final and is favoured to win a second straight Diamond League Trophy.

Wanyonyi has been impressive in the series meetings, winning four of his six, with second and third place in the other events, and his main competitor is Olympics bronze medalist Djamel Sedjati.

In the men’s 1,500m, Kenya has Timothy Cheruiyot, Reynold Cheruiyot and Phanuel Koech and they stand a chance in an event that has American Yared Nuguse as the biggest name, at least on paper.

Timothy Cheruiyot is the most experienced from the line-up as the 29-year-old has won four Diamond League trophies, although his last was in 2021, and he is itching to get his fifth in Zurich while youngsters Reynold Cheruiyot and Koech are looking for their maiden titles.

Meanwhile, in the men’s 3000m steeplechase, Edmund Serem, Simon Koech and Abraham Kibiwott have the tough task of dislodging Olympics and world champion Soufiane El Bakkali, who has one Diamond League Trophy, which was won in 2022.

In the women’s 1,500m, there is an agreement that multiple Olympics and world champion Faith Kipyegon is guaranteed a sixth Diamond League title.

Kipyegon has remained unbeaten over the distance for years and few will bet against her, with her rivals including Kenyan compatriots Nelly Chepchirchir and Susan Ejore.

Similarly in the women’s 5,000m, Beatrice Chebet is the overwhelming favourite to defend her Diamond League crown as she looks for a third title.

The Olympics and world record holder has been peerless this season and even with the presence of Gudaf Tsegay, it is difficult to see beyond Chebet, who will have Kenyans Agnes Jebet Ngetich and Caroline Nyaga for company in Zurich.

Youngster Faith Cherotich has perhaps her best chance of becoming a Diamond League champion this year after what has been an impressive season.

The 21-year-old has won three Diamond League races and finished second in one and her rival Winfred Yavi remains the main challenger while Kenyan Doris Lemngole is also in the race.

Meanwhile, in the field events, Kenya will be represented by former world javelin champion Julius Yego who is bubbling with confidence after winning his first Diamond League series meeting since 2016 two weeks ago.

Yego won the Silesia Diamond League after a throw of 83.60m but he needs to get in the region of 90m to have a chance of winning his first Diamond League title.