Faith Cherotich and Doris Lemngole will take to the Tokyo National Stadium track this evening with a herculean task of reclaiming Kenya’s 3000msc gold medal at the global championships for the 1st time since 2019.
After winning bronze in her first senior global championships in 2023, the 21-year-old Cherotich, who is oozing with confidence following a stellar Diamond League season, will also be aiming to etch her name as the 4th Kenyan woman to clinch the world title after Milcah Chemos (2013), Hyvin Kiyeng (2015) and world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech in 2019.
The battle for the coveted ultimate prize, the gold medal, will be between defending champion and Olympic champion, training partner and Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi and 2020 Olympic champion Peruth Chemtai from Uganda.
The Olympic bronze medalist will be partnered with US-based Lemngole, who will be making her debut at the championships.
Cherotich has beaten Yavi twice this year at the Doha and Oslo Diamond League meets and is aiming for a 3rd and the mother of all victories today against the Olympic champion.
Other competitors in today’s 3:57pm final include the Ethiopian duo of Sembo Almayew and Lomi Muleta and Kenyan-born Kazakhstani Norah Jeruto.
