At Japan National Stadium on 17/9, Cherotich stayed close to Yavi for most of the race before making a decisive sprint in the final 400m, finishing in 8 minutes 51.59 seconds.

Faith Cherotich (left) and Winfred Yavi compete in the women's 3000m steeplechase final at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on 17/9/2025. Photo: *Canadian Running Magazine*

The 21-year-old Kenyan won her first world championship title, breaking the previous championship record by over one second. The former record was held by Norah Jeruto (Kazakhstan) with a time of 8 minutes 53.02 seconds at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene.

The world record for the event still belongs to Beatrice Chepkoech (Kenya) with 8 minutes 44.32 seconds, set in Fontvieille, Monaco in July 2018.

Cherotich's previous best results include two Diamond League titles (2024, 2025) and bronze medals at both the Olympics and World Championships. "Going from bronze to gold feels amazing," she said. "In the last 400m I told myself: 'This is my moment.' I believed in myself and it paid off."

Faith Cherotich celebrates after winning the gold medal. Photo: *Reuters*

Winfred Yavi, the 2024 Tokyo Olympic champion, 2023 World Athletics Championships winner in Budapest and 2023 Diamond League champion, was the favorite. However, the Kenyan-born Bahraini star couldn't defend her title, finishing second with a time of 8 minutes 56.46 seconds.

Sembo Almayew (Ethiopia) took the bronze with a personal best of 8 minutes 58.86 seconds. "My legs were hurting, but I pushed myself harder this summer to be ready for Tokyo," the 20-year-old athlete said.

The 2025 World Athletics Championships took place from 13/9 to 21/9 at Japan National Stadium in Tokyo. This is the third time Japan has hosted this event, following Tokyo in 1991 and Osaka in 2007. This year's championships attracted over 2,000 athletes from approximately 200 countries and territories, competing in 49 events.

Medals were also awarded in other events on 17/9. In the men's 1500m, Isaac Nader (Portugal) caused an upset by winning gold in 3 minutes 34.10 seconds, beating the 2022 world champion Jake Wightman (Great Britain) by just 0.02 seconds. The bronze medal went to Reynold Cheruiyot (Kenya) with 3 minutes 34.25 seconds.

In the women's pole vault, Katie Moon (USA) affirmed her dominance by clearing 4.90m on her final attempt, a season-best performance, to win her third consecutive gold medal. Sandi Morris won her 4th silver medal at the world championships, while the bronze went to Tina Sutej (Slovenia) with 4.80m.

In the men's long jump, Matteo Furlani (Italy) made history with a jump of 8.39m on his fifth attempt, becoming the youngest men's long jump champion in the history of the world championships. His jump surpassed those of Tajay Gayle (Jamaica, 8.34m) and Shi Yuhao (China, 8.33m).

Hong Duy