Kenya’s female athletes continued to fly the country’s flag at the Diamond League final in Brussels when they clinched most titles at the season finale.

Out of the nine track events in Brussels, four went Kenya’s way with some stunning performances being witnessed in the Belgian capital.

Three of the four titles were won on the second day of the competition after world champion Mary Moraa had regained her 800m crown in fine fashion on Friday.

Moraa ran a very tactical race to win the 800m Diamond Trophy in a season’s best 1:56.56, having saved the best for last, as she stormed to victory in the final 200m.

The Commonwealth champion had last won the trophy in 2022 before she was denied by American Athing Mu last year but she made amends with her victory ahead of Britain’s Georgia Bell (1:57.50) and Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin, who completed the podium in 1:58.94.

Kenyans were sent into delirium on Saturday when 20-year-old Faith Cherotich stunned Olympics and world champion Winfred Yavi to claim the 3,000m steeplechase title.

With Yavi and former Olympics champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda in the race, few gave Cherotich a chance at victory but she proved everyone wrong.

The world and Olympics bronze medallist timed her jumps at the water barriers to perfection while keeping Yavi in check, and at the final hurdle, she had already managed a good gap which she held on to win her first-ever Diamond League title.

After Cherotich’s heroics, it was the time of the GOAT to do what she has always done. Faith Kipyegon lined up for the 1,500m and no one in the stadium expected anybody else to win.

It is what just happened as the three-time Olympics champion smashed the meeting record to clock 3:54.75 for her fifth Diamond League title.

Double Olympics champion Beatrice Chebet put the icing on the cake for the Kenyan women when she commanded the 5,000m race from start to finish.

Chebet left her rivals by a big gap as she lowered Almas Ayana’s meeting record by setting a new mark of 14:09.82 for her second Diamond League title.

Like Moraa, Chebet had also won her first trophy in 2022 before missing out last year, but made amends in emphatic style. To show how dominant she was, second-placed Medina Eisa of Ethiopia came home in 14:21.89.

It has been a great season for Chebet who has a world record in 10,000m, World Cross-Country title, two Olympics gold medals and now the Diamond League title in 2024.

Other track titles titles went to Julien Alfred from St Lucia (100m), American Brittany Brown (200m), Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic (400m), Jasmine Camacho-Quinn (Pueto Rico) for the 100m hurdles and Dutchwoman Femke Bol who claimed the 400m hurdles crown.

The Diamond League final wins came with $30,000 (Ksh3.9 million) reward and a shiny diamond trophy for each of the champion.

It continues a trend where Kenyan women have outperformed their male counterparts at major events in the last one year, with all three gold medallists at the 2023 World Championships being ladies, while three of the four gold medals won at the Paris Olympics came from the same gender.

Over to you, Kenyan men in 2025.

Faith Cherotich shares tactics behind her stunning Diamond League win over Olympic champion Winfred Yavi

Faith Cherotich claimed her first-ever Diamond League victory in the women's 3000m steeplechase, defeating Olympic champion Winfred Yavi.

Olympics bronze medalist Faith Cherotich has reacted with elation following her first-ever Diamond League triumph in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Brussels meeting on Saturday night.

The 20-year-old Kenyan runner delivered a stunning performance, clocking 9:02.36 to secure the title ahead of the formidable Olympic champion, Kenyan-born Winfred Yavi of Bahrain, who finished with a time of 9:02.87.

Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai claimed the bronze in 9:07.60, rounding out the podium.

The victory marked a sweet revenge for Cherotich, who had previously trailed both Yavi and Chemutai in their head-to-head clash at the Rome Diamond League on August 30.

“I didn’t expect to win today, but I think that I ran a good race. It wasn’t easy, but I kept saying to myself that, if I’m still in the lead after the last water jump, I was going to win,” she said.

“Winning the Diamond League means a lot to me,” Cherotich added, reflecting on the significance of her achievement.

Known affectionately as Little Faith, Cherotich has been a consistent presence on the Diamond League podiums throughout 2024, including second place in Xiamen and third-place finishes in both Prefontaine and Rome.

Before Brussels, Cherotich had yet to taste victory on the Diamond League circuit, despite her impressive performances.

Her rise to prominence was further solidified after winning a bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Cherotich began her season strong with a third-place finish at the Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen, followed by another podium finish at the Prefontaine Classic.

Her standout performance at the Kenyan Olympic trials was a pivotal moment, where she outpaced world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech and fellow Kenyan Jackline Chepkoech to secure her spot for the Paris Games.

In Brussels, Cherotich showcased her resilience and tactical acumen. Facing a world-class field, including the overwhelming favorite Yavi, she employed bold tactics and relentless determination to navigate the race.

Her strategic approach, particularly during the final water jump, allowed her to maintain the lead when it mattered most.

For Yavi, Cherotich’s triumph introduces a temporary setback in what has been an extraordinary year.

The Bahraini star, who set an Olympic record of 8:52.76 to win gold in Paris, had been in exceptional form, winning both the Paris and Rome Diamond League meetings.

She even came close to breaking the world record in Rome with an astonishing time of 8:44.39.

Heading into Brussels, Yavi was the clear favorite, but Cherotich’s performance proved that determination and strategy can overcome even the most formidable opponents.

Peerless Beatrice Chebet adds Diamond League trophy to glorious season

Beatrice Chebet dominated the 2024 Diamond League final in Brussels, continuing her exceptional season with another remarkable victory.

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet was once again in a class of her own as she dominated the field in Brussels to win the 2024 Diamond League title on Saturday night, finishing ahead of Ethiopia’s Eisa Medina and Tsfay Foyten.

The double Olympic champion, who has been in a league of her own on the track this season, capped off a historic 2024 campaign with a time of 14:09.82.

Chebet went to the Diamond League Meeting in Zurich with one goal in mind, to attack Gudaf Tsegay’s world record in the women’s 5000m.

This victory not only secured her the coveted Diamond League trophy but also saw her shatter the previous meeting record of 14:09.82, set by Ethiopia’s Almaz Ayana in September 2016.

Although she fell just nine seconds short the Kenyan star has proven herself a relentless competitor setting new benchmarks throughout the season.

Behind Chebet, Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa delivered a standout performance, securing second place and setting a new World Under-20 Record with an impressive time of 14:21.89.

Fotyen Tesfay, another Ethiopian athlete, clocked a personal best of 14:28.53 to clinch third place. Ethiopia’s dominance in the event was further highlighted by Ejgayehu Taye’s fourth-place finish in 14:29.70.

Kenya’s Caroline Nyaga added to the excitement with a fifth-place finish, setting a personal best of 14:30.14, while Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka secured sixth place with a season-best time of 14:31.88.

Ethiopia’s Melknat Wudu achieved a personal best of 14:36.65 to finish seventh, and American Karissa Schweizer rounded out the top eight with a season-best of 14:36.88. Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama completed the top nine, finishing in 14:49.79.

Chebet’s strategy in the race was evident as she took control from the start, with two pacemakers leading the way before they dropped off.

Once at the front, she never looked back, proving once again why she is a force to be reckoned with.

Chebet’s performance in Brussels adds another chapter to her remarkable 2024 season. Earlier in the year, she broke the world record in the 10,000 meters, clocking an astonishing 28:54.14 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.

She also shattered the world record for the 5-kilometer road race in Barcelona, setting a blistering time of 14:13, a record that remains unbeaten.

On top of her record-breaking feats, Chebet secured gold in both the 5000 meters and 10,000 meters at the Paris Olympic Games, cementing her legacy as one of the greatest distance runners of her generation.

The only elusive record that Chebet has yet to conquer is the 5000 meters world record, currently held by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay at 14:00.21.

Chebet had hoped to break it in Zurich but was thwarted by rainy conditions, finishing just nine seconds short. Despite the near miss, Chebet remains undeterred and is confident she will eventually break the record.

Indomitable Faith Kipyegon ends Diamond League season on a high with blistering 1500m run to take home record fifth title

Kipyegon ends season on a high by setting another record in Brussels to take home the 1500m Diamond League title yet again.

Faith Kipyegon proved she is indeed hard to beat for the umpteenth time as she cruised to a record-setting 1500m win in Brussels to take home a fifth Diamond League title on Saturday night.

Kipyegon, who recently completed a hat trick of gold medals in the 1500 meters to cement her status as undoubtedly the greatest middle-distance female runner of all time, set a meet record in the process, getting over the line on 3:54.75 .

Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji finished second on 3:55.25, while Austaria’s Olympic silver medalist Jesica Hull got third on 3:56.99.

Nelly Chepchirchir, the other Kenyan on the track, finished fifth on 3:58.05, while Georgia Bell, who finished second in the 800 meters the night before, settled for seventh on 3:58.95.

Reflecting on her performance, Kipyegon expressed gratitude and emphasized that setting a world record wasn’t her focus for the night.

“It was a good race, and I really thank God for that. The world record was not on my mind today. My goal was to finish my Diamond League season in a good way, and I did,” Kipyegon shared after her victory.

Despite the impressive result, Kipyegon acknowledged the challenges of the race, particularly the cold conditions. “It was a good race, but definitely not an easy one. It was a bit cold to run 61 seconds in the first lap and 62 seconds for the next lap. I tried to be myself and focus on the finish line,” she explained.

Looking ahead, Kipyegon hinted at her upcoming race in New York, which will mark the conclusion of her season. “Hopefully, I will finish my season in New York in a good way. It will be my last race of the season. I am still looking forward to racing. I started my season very late because of a small problem, and I still feel strong,” she added.

For Mila Pulse Sport

~ DAN ~