Kenya’s Faith Cherotich delivered a commanding performance to win the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Oslo Diamond League on Thursday, clocking a world-leading and meeting record time of 9:02.60.
The 20-year-old Cherotich surged past reigning world champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain on the final lap, maintaining composure and power to edge her closest rival in a thrilling head-to-head battle. Yavi, who held the fastest personal best in the field (8:44.39), finished second in 9:02.76—just 0.16 seconds behind.
The race marked back-to-back victories for Cherotich over Yavi this season, underlining her emergence as a leading contender ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani placed third in a season-best 9:06.84, while Germany’s Lea Meyer ran a personal best of 9:09.21 for fourth.
The race featured a strong American presence, with four U.S. athletes finishing in the top 10. However, Kenya’s Jackline Chepkoech, a former world record holder and the 2021 world U20 champion, struggled to find her rhythm, placing 10th in 9:30.49.
Cherotich’s 9:02.60 not only tops this year’s world rankings but also set a new meeting record in Oslo. She remains a prominent name on the watchlist for Paris, with consistent sub-9:05 performances and a maturing race strategy.
