Winfred Yavi beats Cherotich 9:00.04-9:01.90 at Lausanne Diamond League

Winfred Yavi won the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Lausanne Diamond League in a meeting-record time of 9:00.04. Kenya’s Faith Cherotich was second in 9:01.90 after leading for long periods, while Tunisia’s Marwa Bouzayani took third in 9:05.55.

Cherotich set the early tempo and held the advantage as the leading group passed 1200 metres. Yavi stayed close alongside Bouzayani, with the front runners remaining tightly packed through the opening stages.

Yavi moved ahead after 1600 metres, but Cherotich responded and reclaimed first place by the 2000m mark. Only five athletes remained in contention at that stage, setting up a direct contest between the two leading runners over the final lap.

The decisive move came from Yavi in the closing stages. She produced the stronger finish and opened a gap after the last barrier, leaving Cherotich unable to respond before the line. Yavi’s 9:00.04 lowered the Lausanne meeting mark, while Cherotich had to settle for second despite her aggressive race from the start.

The result ended a strong run of performances by Cherotich in 2026. After returning from an injury that affected her early season, the reigning world champion placed second in Shaoxing/Keqiao in 8:51.48 and third in Xiamen in 8:52.53. She then won the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene with a world-leading 8:51.74.

Cherotich also arrived in Lausanne as the Commonwealth champion after winning gold at the XXIII Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 9:01.76. Yavi, the Olympic champion, denied her another victory, but both athletes finished inside 9:02 in a race decided by the final-lap battle.