Mixed fortunes for Team Kenya in Oslo Diamond League
Faith Cherotich and Emmanuel Wanyonyi delivered commanding victories at the Oslo Diamond League, providing bright moments for Kenya on a night where others faltered. While Kenya's 5,000m hopes faded, these two rising stars made their mark with record-breaking performances.
Kenya’s campaign at the Oslo Diamond League was a tale of two extremes - on one end, the defiant brilliance of Faith Cherotich and Emmanuel Wanyonyi; on the other, a night of unfulfilled promise for the country’s 5,000m contenders.
In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, Faith Cherotich produced another commanding win over Olympic champion Winfred Yavi, repeating her Doha triumph with added authority. Clocking a meet record 9:02.60, the 2024 Olympic bronze medallist timed her move with precision, waiting until the final lap to strike.
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What began as a steady contest quickly turned into a tactical duel between Cherotich and the Bahraini. With the bell ringing for the final lap, the Kenyan surged ahead, drawing Yavi into a head-to-head battle. It was a familiar script—just as in Doha, Cherotich waited until the last 200 metres to deliver her decisive kick. And once again, Yavi couldn’t match her finishing power.
Cherotich not only defended her lead but extended it down the final stretch, shaving over two seconds off her Doha time and setting a new meet record. Yavi followed in 9:02.76 with Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani claiming third. Back-to-back Diamond League wins now place Cherotich firmly among the favourites ahead of the World Championships.
Just minutes later on the track, Emmanuel Wanyonyi added to Kenya’s joy with a resounding win in the men’s 800m. The reigning Olympic champion returned to form with a personal best of 1:42.78, shrugging off his previous stumble in Rabat.
Wanyonyi kept within striking range early on, shadowing Poland’s Mateusz Sieradzki. With 250 metres left, the teenager powered through the pack with characteristic upper-body drive, fending off a late push from Algeria’s Mohamed Ali Gouaned Attaoui. It was a display of tactical maturity and raw speed—one that reminded the world why Wanyonyi remains one of the sport’s most exciting talents.
While Cherotich and Wanyonyi soared, the men's 5,000m field told a different story. Kenya’s distance runners were eclipsed in a blistering race won by America’s Nico Young in 12:45.27. Jacob Krop, who once held fifth midway, faded to 11th in 12:51.16. Nicholas Kipkorir trailed in 14th, well off the pace in 13:06.92.
The early pace was set by Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha and Germany’s Thorwirth Maximilian, but it was a late surge from Young that blew the race open. Despite attempts from Ethiopian teenager Biniam Mehary and Kuma Girma to close the gap, Young’s explosive final lap proved unmatchable.
Elsewhere, former world champion Timothy Cheruiyot posted a personal best of 3:49.06 in the men’s mile but had to settle for fourth,his ongoing struggle to reclaim past dominance persisting.
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