Cheruiyot, Chepchirchir and Cherotich star as Kenyans shine at Doha Diamond League
Kenyan athletes stole the spotlight at the 2025 Diamond League opener in Doha, with Reynold Cheruiyot, Nelly Chepchirchir and Faith Cherotich each producing stunning victories in their respective races under the floodlights at Qatar Sports Club.
Kenyan athletes delivered a memorable night at the Wanda Diamond League opener in Doha on Friday, securing dominant wins in three key races and reaffirming the country’s strength in middle and long-distance running.
In the men’s 5000 metres, 20-year-old Reynold Cheruiyot, known more for his exploits in the 1500m, stunned a strong field with a late surge to win in a personal best time of 13:16.40. In only his second competitive outing over the distance, Cheruiyot timed his kick to perfection, pulling away in the final 400 metres to beat Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu (13:17.70) and Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew (13:18.29). His previous best over the distance was nearly 20 seconds slower.
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“It was a tactical race. I stayed patient and waited for my moment,” said the 2022 World U20 1500m champion, whose performance may raise questions about a possible switch to the 5000m in future.
In just his second career 5000m race, Reynold Cheruiyot takes down a good field to win the Doha Diamond League in 13:16.40.
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) May 16, 2025
Closed HARD.
His last 5000m was a 13:33.05 at altitude in Nairobi in 2022. Last year, he only reached the semifinals of the 1500m at the Paris Olympics.… pic.twitter.com/hs5yNiSTbk
The men's race had seen early leads traded between Edwin Kurgat and Samuel Tefera before Cheruiyot and others closed in. Backed by raucous support from Kenyans living in Doha, Cheruiyot unleashed a powerful final kick after the last bend that left the rest trailing.
In the women’s 1500 metres, Nelly Chepchirchir led a Kenyan 1-2 finish with Susan Ejore, clocking 4:05.00 to win a slow but tactical race. Chepchirchir controlled the tempo from the front and showed composure in the final metres, fending off Ejore (4:06.27), with Great Britain’s Jemma Reekie third in 4:07.33.
The win marks a strong start to the season for Chepchirchir, who continues to build on her breakout 2024 campaign. “It wasn’t the fastest race, but I knew I had to stay in front and be ready to sprint,” she said after the race.
The most dramatic finish of the night came in the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase, where Faith Cherotich, also 20, delivered a resounding statement by beating reigning Olympic and World champion Winfred Yavi in a world-leading 9:05.08. The two broke away from the field with 400m to go, but it was Cherotich who proved stronger at the end, clearing the final water jump cleanly before outsprinting her rival to the finish. Yavi was second in 9:05.26.
The Doha win was particularly sweet for Cherotich, who had previously lost to Yavi at the Paris Olympics and the 2024 Rome Diamond League. “This one means a lot. I wanted to show that I’ve grown,” said Cherotich, who now holds the fastest time in the world this season.
The women’s steeplechase returned to the Doha programme for the first time since 2023 and featured a high-calibre field including 2022 world champion Norah Jeruto and Daisy Jepkemei, both now representing Kazakhstan.
In the men’s 800 metres, Wycliffe Kinyamal, the Commonwealth Games champion, took third place in a season’s best 1:43.37, behind Botswana’s Tshepiso Masalela, who won in a world-leading 1:43.11, and American Bryce Hoppel (1:43.26). Masalela ran a well-timed tactical race, holding back before unleashing a decisive sprint.
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