The 2019 African Under-20 800m bronze medalist, Nelly Chepchirchir, will be chasing her fourth Diamond League victory over 1,500m when she takes to the track in Brussels tonight.
The 22-year-old Chepchirchir has been in imperious form this season, going unbeaten in all her outings. She opened her 2025 campaign with a commanding win in the road Mile at the Adidas Adizero Road to Records meet on April 26, posting 4:23.99.
Ethiopia’s Hawi Abera (4:26.83) and American Addison Wiley (4:31.49) trailed in second and third, respectively. Chepchirchir carried that momentum onto the Diamond League circuit, kicking off with a win in Doha on May 16 (4:05.00), where she edged out Susan Ejore (4:06.27) and Britain’s Jemma Reekie (4:07.33).
She followed that with a 3:58.04 victory in Rabat on May 25 before setting a season best of 3:57.02 to claim her third victory in Paris on June 20. She further showcased her range with a dominant 1,000m win in Monaco on July 11, clocking 2:29.77 to beat Wiley (2:30.71) and Australia’s Jessica Hull (2:30.96).
Her consistency has already earned her a ticket to the Zurich Diamond League final set for August 27-28, where she sits third on the standings with 15 points, joint with second-placed Gudaf Tsegay, while Ireland’s Sarah Healy leads the pack with 23.
On July 22, Chepchirchir booked her ticket to the Tokyo World Championships over 1,500m after winning at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in 4:05.09 ahead of Ejore (4:05.24) and Dorcas Ewoi (4:08.08).
The results booked her a second World Championship appearance, where she will team up with four-time world champion Faith Kipyegon, Ejore and Dorcas Ewoi.
In Brussels, Chepchirchir teams up with Ejore as they face a stern Ethiopian test led by 2023 World silver medallist Diribe Welteji.
Welteji will be backed by Freweyni Hailu and Axumawit Embaye. The American trio of Nikki Hiltz, Heather Maclean and Sunclaire Johnson also add firepower to a stacked field.
Elsewhere, national 400m champion Mercy Oketch headlines the women’s invitational race, while Olympic silver medallist Abraham Kibiwot spearheads Kenya’s charge in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase alongside Simon Koech, Wesley Langat and Wilberforce Kones in a bid for a podium sweep.
In the men’s 1500m, 2023 world cross country silver medallist, Reynold Cheruiyot, leads the Kenyan quartet of Boaz Kiprugut, Abel Kipsang and youngster Phanuel Koech against the American duo of Yared Nuguse and Hobbs Kessler.
Women’s 10k world record holder Agnes Ngetich takes command of the 5,000m line-up, joined by 2022 African 10,000m champion Caroline Nyaga, Janeth Chepngetich and Purity Chepkirui.
by TEDDY MULEI
