Faith Kipyegon leads Kenyan charge into 1500m semi-finals in Tokyo
By Kenneth Mwenda, September 13, 2025Faith Kipyegon underlined her class once again as she cruised to victory in the women’s 1500m heat 4 at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. The defending world and Olympic champion crossed the line in 4:02.55, securing her place in the semi-finals and leading three other Kenyans into the next round.
Kenya had four women in the heats – Kipyegon, Nelly Chepchirchir, Susan Ejore, and Dorcus Ewoi. All of them advanced, making Kenya one of the strongest nations heading into the semi-finals. Each athlete ran a smart race, showing the depth and strength of Kenya’s middle-distance squad.
The first heat featured Dorcus Ewoi, who was making her World Championships debut for Kenya. She kept her composure in a competitive field that included Australia’s Jessica Hull and Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka. Olympic silver medallist Hull took the win in 4:04.40, with Sinclaire Johnson and Gaia Sabbatini also finishing strongly.
Ewoi timed her finish well, claiming fourth place to book her semi-final spot. She was joined by Marta Perez and Weronika Lizakowska, who rounded out the top six.
Heat 2 saw Nelly Chepchirchir continue her fine season. The 22-year-old has only lost once this year and arrived in Tokyo with high confidence after winning the Diamond League final in Zurich. She did not disappoint, producing a controlled performance to win in 4:07.01.
Chepchirchir made her move in the final lap, surging past Linden Hall and holding off Klaudia Kazimierska and Salome Afonso, who took second and third. Hall, Emily Mackay, and Revee Walcott-Nolan also advanced.
In Heat 3, Susan Ejore lined up against strong opposition, including American Nikki Hiltz and Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu. The race was physical, with pushing and jostling at the bell, but Ejore stayed calm. Hailu took control late and won in 4:01.23, with Hiltz close behind. Ejore held her ground to finish third.
Kipyegon stays in command
Heat 4 provided the biggest story. World record holder and defending World and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon, introduced to loud cheers from the Tokyo crowd, stayed out of trouble in the early laps before asserting herself in the final 400m. Running alongside Britain’s Laura Muir and Italy’s Marta Zenoni at the bell, Kipyegon showed her class and powered to the line in 4:02.55.
France’s Sarah Madeleine and Ireland’s Sarah Healy followed her home in second and third, with Zenoni, Gabija Galvydytė, and Nele Weßel also advancing. Muir, however, faded badly in the final 200m, finishing eighth and missing the semi-finals in a shock exit.
With all four Kenyan women through, the country has strong representation in the semi-finals.