A super strong field has been assembled for what is expected to be a thrilling women’s 3000m steeplechase in the Doha Diamond League meeting on Friday evening.
Olympic bronze medallist Faith Cherotich, better known as ‘Small Faith’ will be taking on Olympic champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain and Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai in the third meeting of the premier track and field circuit.
The clash pitting the big three is a rematch of the 2024 Paris Olympics where Yavi, Chemutai and Cherotich bagged gold, silver and bronze respectively.
But Cherotich went on to be crowned the 2024 Diamond League champion.
The former World Under-20 champion and 2023 World Athletics Rising Star award winner hopes to make a huge statement as she battles the high quality field.
While Cherotich takes to Doha her Diamond League champion title, Yavi is there as the second-fastest women’s steeplechaser of all time, holding three of the ten fastest times ever recorded.
The Kenyan-born Bahraini is also the reigning Olympic and world champion and is oozing confidence ahead of the clash on Friday.
“When I ran my personal best in Rome last year I was a bit disappointed not to break the world record because I thought it was possible. I’ve been working very hard over the winter and I believe it will happen at some point. It is important to stay focused and to stay hungry.
“To win gold in Tokyo and successfully defend my world title is my main goal for this year, but I want to run fast and set a high standard when I open my Diamond League season in Doha. Conditions are good in Qatar and when the crowd gets behind us, anything is possible,” Yavi said.
Chemutai, the Ugandan record holder, is going to Doha as the third-fastest all-time with a best 8:48.03 recorded at the 2024 Diamond League event in Rome where she finished second behind Yavi.
Cherotich is the sole Kenyan in the women’s 3000m steeplechase field dominated by Kenyan-born stars among them Yavi (Bahrain), former world champion Norah Jeruto and former world junior champion Daisy Jepkemei (both of Kazakhstan) as well as Stella Rutto (Romania).
Olympian Nelly Chepchirchir is anchoring the Kenyan women cast in the 1500m race which also features Susan Ejore and Teresiah Gateri.
They will be battling Ethiopian athletes Tigist Girma, Elsabet Amare and Saron Berhe among other global greats for the leading positions.
Former world 1500m Under-20 champion Reynold Cheruiyot is in Doha seeking to make a name in 5000m.
Cheruiyot, a 1500m specialist will be competing alongside compatriots, African bronze medallist, African Under-20 silver medallist Boaz Kiprugut and Edwin Kurgat as they contend the title in a race that has strong casts from Ethiopia, France, USA and Switzerland.
African champion Aaron Cheminingwa, alongside Laban Chepkwony, will be taking part in the men’s 800m.
A top-quality field is also converging in Doha for the men’s javelin competition which features former world champion Julius Yego, who is looking to redeem his power ahead of the Tokyo World Championships in September.
Yego will compete with Olympic javelin silver medallist Neeraj Chopra of India, the world javelin record holder (98.48m) Jan Železný of Czech Republic, former world champion and Diamond League champion Anderson Peters of Grenada, former Olympic and world silver medallist Jakub Vadlejch (Czech Republic); former European champion Julian Weber (Germany) and former Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott (Trinidad and Tobago).
“Great to be back here again to launch the season and hopefully great summer competitions and finally the world (championships),” Yego wrote on Wednesday.
The circuit comprises 15 of the most esteemed events in track and field across four different continents, and it started with Xiamen on April 26 and will be concluding with a single final across two days in Zurich (August 27-28).
SELECTED RACES/EVENTS TO WATCH:
800M Men – 7.13 pm
5000m Men – 7.45 pm
1500m Women – 8.08 pm
3000m steeplechase Women – 8.44 am
Stephen Rutto
| May 15, 2025