Faith Cherotich and Isaac Nader strode into the international spotlight, while Katie Moon and Mattia Furlani added to their global gold medal hauls on day five of the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 on Wednesday.
Kenya’s Faith Cherotich upstaged world and Olympic champion Winfred Yavi to win the women’s 3000m steeplechase final.
The 21-year-old, bronze medallist at the Budapest 2023 World Championships and the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, tracked Yavi for most of the race, but started to kick with half a lap to go. Flying over the final water jump, she propelled herself into the lead.
Cherotich sprinted away to win in a championship record of 8:51.59, finishing almost five seconds clear of Yavi (8:56.46). Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew took bronze in a PB of 8:58.86.
Portugal’s Isaac Nader secured a surprise victory in the men’s 1500m. Briton Jake Wightman secured silver in 3:34.12 and Kenya’s Reynold Cheruiyot got bronze in 3:34.25.
In other events, USA’s Katie Moon retained her pole vault title with a last-gasp clearance and Italy’s Mattia Furlani became the youngest ever men’s world long jump champion.
Selected Results:
Women’s 3000m Steeplechase Final:
- Faith Cherotich (KEN) 8:51.59 CR
- Winfred Yavi (BRN) 8:56.46
- Sembo Almayew (ETH) 8:58.86 PB
Men’s Long Jump Final:
- Mattia Furlani (ITA) 8.39m PB
- Tajay Gayle (JAM) 8.34m
- Shi Yuhao (CHN) 8.33m
Men’s 1500m Final:
- Isaac Nader (POR) 3:34.10
- Jake Wightman (GBR) 3:34.12
- Reynold Cheruiyot (KEN) 3:34.25
Women’s Pole Vault Final:
- Katie Moon (USA) 4.90m
- Sandi Morris (USA) 4.85m
- Tina Sutej (SLO) 4.80m