Rising 3,000m steeplechase star Anatasha Cheptoo believes her bronze medal at the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon, is only the beginning of a promising international career.
The 18-year-old battled to the podium in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final, clocking 9:37.18 to secure bronze and add a global medal to the African U20 title she won last year.
Ethiopia’s Almaz Yohannis stormed to gold in a World U20-leading 9:15.81, with compatriot Wosane Asefa taking silver in 9:30.50.
Kenya’s other finalist, Mercy Chepng’eno, failed to finish. Cheptoo had announced herself on the continental stage at the 2025 African U20/U18 Championships in Nigeria, where she won the steeplechase title in 9:27.8, to lead a Kenyan podium sweep. Chepng’eno took silver in 9:32.9, while Sharon Chepkemoi was third in 9:34.3.
In Eugene, Cheptoo had to dig deep to keep Kenya’s medal hopes alive after Chepng’eno faded from contention. “I pushed myself so that I could finish on the podium. I thank God for giving me the strength,” said Cheptoo.
The two Kenyans had gone into the final hoping to secure a one-two finish, but their plans unravelled as the race progressed. “We had planned to make the podium, the two of us. But after a few laps, I looked back, and I did not see Mercy,” she said.
Despite missing out on gold and silver, Cheptoo is already looking ahead, with Eugene experience expected to play a key role in her development.
“I am now going back to training so that I can prepare for the next championship,” she said. Her bronze will also come with a Sh1 million reward under the Government’s new incentive scheme for Kenyan athletes who medal at the World U20 Championships. Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya announced that gold medallists would receive Sh2 million, silver medallists Sh1.5 million and bronze medallists Sh1 million.
Cheptoo plans to use her reward to support her parents, who have played a key role in her developing athletics career. “I am going to help my parents with the prize from my podium finish,” she said.
The bronze caps a steady rise for Cheptoo in 2026. She opened her season with seventh place at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix on April 18 in 10:16.86 before finishing fourth at the Kip Keino Classic six days later in 10:03.49.
She followed that with third place at the National Police Service Track and Field Championships in 10:15.0 before lowering her personal best to 9:33.80 at the National Championships on June 20, where she again finished third.
With a continental title and now a global medal already in the bag, Cheptoo’s sights are firmly set on bigger honours.
