Cherotich, Yavi renew steeplechase rivalry in Xiamen with early-season bragging rights at stake

Faith Cherotich competes at the 2025 Tokyo World Championships/ FILE

World 3,000m steeplechase champion Faith Cherotich is set for an early-season blockbuster against Olympic champion Winfred Yavi at the Xiamen Diamond League on May 23.

The pair have become the headline act in the women’s water-and-barrier discipline, their rivalry consistently producing explosive, world-class performances.

Their first meeting dates back to 2022 at the Brussels Diamond League, when Cherotich was still transitioning into the senior ranks.

In that race, the 21-year-old narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in 9:09.63. Yavi placed third in 9:08.03, behind Kenya’s Jackline Chepkoech (9:02.43) and Ethiopia’s Werkuha Getachew (9:03.44). Their duel rolled on to Zurich, where Cherotich claimed third in 9:06.14 while Yavi finished runner-up in 9:04.47, with Getachew taking victory in 9:03.57.

In 2023, their tussle resumed at the Doha Diamond League, where Yavi stormed to victory in 9:04.38 as Cherotich placed third in 9:06.43. At the World Athletics Championships Budapest 2023, Yavi clinched gold in 8:54.29 ahead of world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech (8:58.98), while Cherotich secured bronze in 9:00.69, her first senior global medal.

Their battle continued in Zurich, with Yavi once again triumphant in 9:03.19 as Cherotich settled for third in 9:07.59. At the season finale, the Prefontaine Classic, Yavi struck victory again in 8:50.66, while Cherotich claimed third place, timing 8:59.65. In 2024, the duo squared off at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, where Yavi surged to gold in 8:52.76, narrowly ahead of Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai (8:53.34), with Cherotich taking bronze in 8:55.15.

They met again in Rome, where Yavi clocked 8:44.39 for victory as Cherotich finished third in 8:57.65. However, Cherotich started turning the tables against the Bahraini.

In the final race of 2024 at the Brussels Diamond League, the youngster powered to victory in 9:02.36 as Yavi crossed second in 9:02.87. Their rivalry spilt into the 2025 season, with Cherotich firing an early warning shot in Doha, winning in 9:05.08 as Yavi followed closely in 9:05.26. Cherotich then maintained her dominance in Oslo, striking again in 9:02.60 with Yavi second in 9:02.76.

Yavi, however, hit back at the Prefontaine Classic, winning in 8:45.25 as Cherotich finished second in 8:48.71. But in the biggest race of the 2025 campaign, the Tokyo World Championships, Cherotich delivered a statement run, cruising to her maiden senior world crown in 8:51.59 as Yavi settled for silver in 8:56.46. Xiamen will mark Cherotich’s first outing of the new season.

Yavi, however, has already opened her campaign on the roads, winning the Elgoibar Cross Country 7km in Spain in 25:23.

Adding further bite to the Xiamen clash is a stacked field featuring 2022 world champion Norah Jeruto, Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai and Morocco’s Marwa Bouzayani.