World steeplechase champion Cherotich eyes great show as new season beckons
FILE: Faith Cherotich clears a hurdle during the 2023 Budapest World Championships. She won the 2024 Olympics Kenya national trials on Friday June 14, 2024 at the Nyayo National Stadium.
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His coach, Bernard Rono, says Cherotich is in good shape in training, with her program slightly adjusted to reflect the buildup that delivered a breakthrough 2025 season.
“We thank God for a new year. Faith will be in action at Kapsabet, where she will compete in the 5000m,” Rono confirmed.
According to the Athletics Kenya 2026 calendar, the national circuit heads to Kapsabet Stadium from March 14 to 16, before the open meetings conclude at Afraha Stadium on March 27–28.
With the 3000m steeplechase not included at the 2026 World Athletics Ultimate Championships in Budapest, Cherotich is expected to shift her focus towards the Diamond League series as part of her main competition plan this season.
“She will first race in the 5000m at a meet in China before later returning to the 3000m steeplechase,” Rono added.
The year 2025 proved to be Cherotich’s defining season. She dominated the Wanda Diamond League, winning in Doha (9:05.08), Oslo (9:02.60), and Paris, where she clocked a world-leading 8:53.37, before lowering her personal best to 8:48.71 at the Prefontaine Classic in the United States.
That form carried into the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, where the then 21-year-old sealed her crowning moment with gold in the 3000 m steeplechase, setting a championship record of 8:51.59 to become world champion.
The 2026 Diamond League season will begin in Doha on May 8 and conclude with a two-day final in Brussels on September 4–5.
“We are still training in Kaptagat. The move to the Global Communication base last season paid off, so we want to keep working hard with our management and see what is best for Faith,” he said.
The Kaptagat camp is home to several Kenyan stars, including Eliud Kipchoge and Faith Kipyegon. Coach Rono also confirmed that the 2026
The Commonwealth Games, set for Glasgow, Scotland, from July 23 to August 2, remain a major target.
“We will see how things go, but the Commonwealth Games are in our plans. We will sit down and make the final decision,” he added.
Kenya has also claimed three World Championship titles, thanks to Milcah Chemos Cheywa in 2013 and 2015 and Beatrice Chepkoech in 2019.
However, Olympic gold has remained elusive, with many sports pundits tipping Faith Cherotich as the athlete who could finally change that at LA 2028.
Rono says the decision to continue training in Kaptagat has been key to Cherotich’s rise.
Meanwhile, Olympic steeplechase champion Winfred Yavi has taken a different route, opening her season with a surprise cross-country campaign as she prepares for a strategic return to the track, setting up another chapter in her growing rivalry with Cherotich.
However, changes in the calendar mean fans may have to wait longer before seeing the two go head-to-head again.
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