After losing to Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai at last weekend’s Diamond League opener in Shanghai, world 3,000m steeplechase champion Faith Cherotich will be chasing redemption when the two renew their rivalry on Saturday in Xiamen.
The pair produced a dramatic finish in Shanghai, where Chemutai edged Cherotich by just 0.01 seconds to win in a meeting record and world-leading 8:51.47. Cherotich followed in 8:51.48, with Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani third in 8:58.09.
Despite the heartbreak, Cherotich remains focused on improvement rather than disappointment. She identified speed in the closing stages as the key difference in Shanghai.
“I had no speed in the race, so I will focus on my speed, especially in the last part of the race,” she said. “I believe I will do better in the coming race.”
The 21-year-old also admitted she is still building full fitness after a disrupted preparation due to injury.
“My preparations were not so good, to be honest, due to some injuries. But now I am hoping to come back very strong,” she added, noting that her season opener still provided valuable race rhythm.
Although Chemutai claimed bragging rights in Shanghai, Cherotich holds a strong record in their growing rivalry. The two first met at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, where Cherotich won bronze in 9:00.69, while Chemutai finished sixth.
Their clashes have since swung between dominance and reversal. At the 2024 Prefontaine Classic, Chemutai won in 8:55.09 ahead of Cherotich in third, but Cherotich responded later in the season by winning the Diamond League title in Brussels.
Their rivalry peaked again in 2025, with Cherotich opening the season with victory in Doha before going on to claim world gold at the Tokyo World Championships in 8:51.59. Chemutai, meanwhile, endured mixed fortunes, including a DNF in Tokyo.
Cherotich’s rise has also included consistent podium finishes in major Diamond League meetings, often behind Olympic and world champion Beatrice Chepkoech and Bahrain’s Winfred Yavi, both key figures in a fiercely competitive field.
In Xiamen, the rematch will again feature Chemutai and Cherotich alongside top contenders such as Yavi and Kazakhstan’s Norah Jeruto, setting up another high-stakes tactical showdown in one of athletics’ most competitive disciplines.
