Kenya’s Faith Cherotich delivered a breathtaking performance on Friday night at the Paris leg of the Wanda Diamond League, cementing her status as the new queen of the women’s 3000m steeplechase.

The 20-year-old stormed to a sensational victory, clocking a jaw-dropping 8:53.37, not only setting a new personal best but also posting a world-leading time for 2025.

BIG Performance 👏

Faith Cherotich pushes hard in the final 100m to go clear in the women’s 3000m and take the win in 8:53.37.

That gives the 20-year-old Kenyan 🇰🇪 the sixth fastest time in history. Incredible.

📸 Marta Gorczyńska for Diamond League AG#DiamondLeague 💎… pic.twitter.com/fWS8wIFC6h

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 20, 2025

The run lifts her to 6th on the all-time list, etching her name among the legends of the event.

“WORLD LEAD & PERSONAL BEST! 20-year-old Faith Cherotich continues her unstoppable rise as the steeplechase queen of 2025, storming to victory at the Paris leg of the @Diamond_League in a blistering 8:53.37. She outpaced Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai and now ranks 6th fastest of all time in the event. Well done, Faith ‘kadogo’,” the Kenya Olympic team wrote on X.

WORLD LEAD & PERSONAL BEST! 😮‍💨🔥

20-year-old Faith Cherotich continues her unstoppable rise as the steeplechase queen of 2025, storming to victory at the Paris leg of the @Diamond_League in a blistering 8:53.37. 🔥

She outpaced Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai and now ranks 6th… pic.twitter.com/t6UXuDEwM7

— TeamKenya (@OlympicsKe) June 20, 2025

Cherotich outshines Uganda’s Chemutai

Cherotich’s commanding performance saw her take down a stacked field that included reigning Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda.

Chemutai, the Tokyo Olympic champion, who also impressed with a season’s best of 8:54.41 — a mark that is her fastest time since 2021 and a strong return to form, finished second.

Ethiopia’s Sembo Almayew ran a notable 9:01.22 to finish in the third position, earning a season best and a meet record for the U20 category (TR7.1).

The American duo of Gabrielle Jennings (9:08.05 SB) and Courtney Wayment (9:08.88 SB) rounded out the top five in a solid showing, both achieving their fastest times this season.

Faith Cherotich’s form

The Friday night win comes barely a week after Faith Cherotich delivered another stellar performance on the international stage, storming to victory in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Oslo Diamond League on the night of Thursday, June 12, 2025.

The 20-year-old clocked a world-leading time and meet record of 9:02.60, beating a stacked field that included reigning world champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain.

Last month, Cherotich also produced a thrilling finish to win and defend the 3000m steeplechase Diamond League title on Friday, May 16, 2025, in Doha, Qatar.

Cherotich won the women’s 3000m steeplechase in a world-leading 9:05.08. World and Olympic champion Winfred Yavi was in control going into the final lap before Cherotich showed grit and determination to win in the end.