Team Kenya has suffered another setback after Phanuel Koech failed to qualify for the semi-finals of the men’s 1500 m in the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on Sunday, September 14, 2025.

Koech, who boasts being the second fastest man in the world this year, was tripped in the final lap after a push from a Swedish athlete.

He picked himself up and went on to finish the race at 12th, way outside the top six qualifying places.

Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen and French veteran Azeddine Habz, who has the top time of the year (3:27.49), set at the Paris Diamond League meeting, also failed to advance in the 1500m races.

Ingebrigtsen finished 8th in his return to racing after a long absence.

Koech’s form

The foregoing comes as a blow for the 19-year-old who was aiming for a podium finish in the global championship.

The middle-distance runner approached the Tokyo Championships as the world U-20 record holder in the event.

His most outstanding race came in July during the London Diamond League, where he stunned a field comprising Britain’s Olympic silver medalist Josh Kerr to win the 1500m race.

Koech powered to an impressive time of 3:28.82, the feat setting a new meet record.

With Koech out, Kenya’s prospect for gold now lies on the shoulders of Reynald Cheruiyot, the 1500 m winner in the 2024 Kipkeino Classic race, and 2019 world champion Timothy Cheruiyot.

Meanwhile, Kenya has so far garnered two gold medals after Beatrice Chebet and Peres Jepchirchir triumphed in the women’s 10,000 m and marathon races, respectively.

Jepchirchir, the Olympic champion, weathered a strong challenge from Tigist Assefa of Ethiopia to stop the clock at 2:24:43 to clinch victory, with Assefa coming in two seconds late on 2:24:45.

Julia Paternain from Uruguay came in a surprise third with an impressive time of 2:27:23.

The Kenyan summoned a dramatic last-gasp kick to beat the world record holder down the finish straight to cut the tape for Kenya’s second gold medal.