Cherotich targets third straight Diamond League trophy after 8:55.82

Faith Cherotich moved closer to a third consecutive Diamond League trophy by winning the women’s 3,000m steeplechase in Zurich in 8:55.82. The Kenyan leads the 2026 standings on 36 points, five ahead of Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani, with the season finale due in Brussels next week.

Cherotich held off fellow Kenyan Doris Lemngole, who finished in 8:55.94 for a personal best, as Kenya secured the top two places. Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai was third in 8:58.28.

The Zurich victory was Cherotich’s second win in this year’s Diamond League. It also strengthened her bid to retain the title after she won the series trophies in 2024 and 2025.

Cherotich, 22, has described the season as a successful one but is already focused on the final race in Belgium. Her priority is to complete the campaign strongly and protect the advantage she has built over Bouzayani.

The Kenyan also took satisfaction from the national team’s performance in Zurich. She said the athletes had prepared well, and her race plan was to move to the front and control the pace after the pacemaker left the field.

A victory in Brussels would give Cherotich a third straight Diamond League crown and add to a growing record that already includes world and Commonwealth Games titles. The final now represents the last step in her effort to secure another season-long championship in the steeplechase.