Sembo, Meseret Get Silver & Bronze in 3000m as Kenya’s Cherotich Impresses in Cali

ADDIS ABABA – Kenya’s Faith Cherotich won the women’s 3000m steeplechase title as Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew and Meseret Yeshaneh finished second and third, respectively, in the World Athletics U20 Championships Cali 22.

From the get-go, the Kenyan athlete seems determined to upgrade the bronze medal she won in the last year’s tournament held in Nairobi, to gold.

Cherotich,18, blasted away and started to lead an early break away group of five – a lead she would never relinquish.

Cherotich’s dominant display left her closest rival Ethiopia’s world U20 leader Sembo with little time to response.

As per the sports governing body World Athletics (WA), Sembo had run 9:09.19 in June, a second consecutive world U18 best. But Cherotich had clocked 9:12.04 in May and went quickest in the qualifying round in Cali.

In the final, Cherotich led an early breakaway group of five that was quickly strung out. Sembo reacted straight away and remained just a step behind until she could hold on no longer.

With two laps to go, Cherotick had further increased the lead to a five-second and was 11 seconds ahead at the bell. She went on to win comfortably in 9:16.14, ahead of Sembo who finished second in 9:30.41.

Sembo’s teammate Meseret finished third, clocking 9:42.02.

Featured Image Caption: Faith Cherotich and Sembo Almayew in the 3000m steeplechase in Cali 22 (Photo WA)