Africans shine on Day Five of 2025 World Championships in Tokyo
Kenya, meanwhile, took the spotlight through Cherotich, who stormed to gold in 8:51.59 to reclaim the title for her nation for the first time since 2019.
African athletes delivered standout performances on Day Five of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, with Ethiopia, Botswana, Uganda, and Bahrain all making their mark before Kenya’s Faith Cherotich capped the evening with a record-breaking gold medal in the steeplechase.
Botswana’s Letsile Tebogo produced a strong response after the heartbreak of his disqualification in the men’s 100m final earlier in the week.
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The Olympic 200m champion stormed to victory in his 200m heat from the outside lane, clocking 20.18 to advance to the semifinals and reignite his medal hopes.
Ethiopia also had reason to celebrate after Sembo Almayew secured bronze in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, timing 8:58.86. The 18-year-old took full advantage of late mishaps by rivals to ensure her country remained on the podium in the event.
Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, the defending champion and former Kenyan, claimed her third consecutive world medal. After leading much of the steeplechase final, Yavi stumbled at the last water jump but still recovered to take silver in 8:56.46.
Uganda’s Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai was less fortunate. She fell early in the same race, ending her title ambitions despite a promising start.
Kenya, meanwhile, took the spotlight through Cherotich, who stormed to gold in 8:51.59 to reclaim the title for her nation for the first time since 2019. The 21-year-old’s victory set a new championship record and reaffirmed Africa’s dominance in the steeplechase.
The men’s 1,500m final also featured strong African representation, with Reynold Cheruiyot of Kenya securing bronze in 3:34.25. His compatriot Timothy Cheruiyot, the 2019 world champion, finished just outside the podium in fourth.
In the field events, Kenya’s Julius Yego, the 2015 world javelin champion, rolled back the years with a season-best throw of 85.96 metres to reach the final. His performance keeps Africa’s hopes alive for a medal in the throws.
With Tebogo’s resurgence, Almayew’s breakthrough, Yavi’s consistency, and Cherotich’s golden run, African athletes once again showed their quality across track and field, ensuring the continent remained central to the drama in Tokyo.
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