Kenyans eye glory dance in country's staple races at Worlds

When the 2025 World Athletics Championships kicks off in Tokyo on Saturday morning, Kenya’s hopes will be on its staple races.

The country’s dominance in a number of middle and long distance races, although fiercely challenged by other athletics powerhouses, however continues to face major threats as the battle for the prestigious world medals intensifies.

As they carry the hopes of an expectant nation, Kenyan stars will be hoping to continue the dominance.

They will be taking the batons from decorated legends who laid the markers and established the tradition of dominance at the world’s premier athletics show.

Races such as 800m, 1500m, 3000m steeplechase, women’s 5000m and the marathon have defined Kenya’s podium dominance over the years.

Kenya, for instance, is banking on the experience of Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi and world gold medallist (defending champion) Mary Moraa in the men’s and women’s 800m respectively.

The duo has stormed to podium spots in high-stakes contests and the globe will be watching each of their steps when they compete in Tokyo.

“I was still gaining experience at the time I represented Kenya in Budapest (the last edition in 2023) and I still needed to fine-tune my tactics. I have now gained experience, not as much as other athletes in the event but enough for me to do well in Tokyo,” Wanyonyi said in an interview with Standard Sports before departure to Tokyo.

Wanyonyi and Moraa will be anchoring the country’s 800m squads as they continue the legacies of legends such as world record holder David Rudisha and 2007 world champion Janeth Jepkosgei among others.

Courtesy of Faith Kipyegon, the women’s 1500m has become a Kenyan affair in recent years as the country’s men displayed mixed results at the global arena.

Kipyegon, who holds the world record in the 1500m race is going for a historic fourth title in the event after astounding victories in 2017, 2022 and 2023.

Her appearance in 1500m gives Kenya hopes of a medal in the 1500m distance.

The entry of global stars such as defending champion Josh Kerr of Great Britain and Norwegian athlete Jakob Ingebrigtsen in the 1500m event dislodged Kenyan greats such as 2019 champion Timothy Cheruiyot.

But youngsters Phanuel Koech and Reynold Cheruiyot will be teaming with Timothy Cheruiyot to ward off competition from Kerr, Ingebrigsten, Frenchman Azeddine Habz and Dutch star Niels Laros among other podium-potential 1500m athletes.

They will be seeking to cement the dominance established by figures such as Olympic champion and world silver medallist Noah Ngeny as well as three-time world champion Asbel Kiprop.

Hopes are also high in the women’s 5000m, where Kipyegon alongside record holders Beatrice Chebet (5000m) and Agnes Ngetich (10km) are competing with stars such as Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia, who once held the fastest time in the distance.

Chebet will be lining up in Tokyo just days after her 5000m world record was ratified by World Athletics on Tuesday.

The phenomenal Kenyan star achieved her 13:58.06 5000m world record at the  Diamond League meeting in Eugene in July.

Returning to the scene of her world 10,000m record from last year, Chebet ran the 5000m in 13:58.06, improving on the 14:00.21 set by Gudaf Tsegay in Eugene on September 17, 2023, World Athletics said while confirming her record.

“I'm so happy to become the first woman to run under 14 minutes. I knew that I was capable of running a world record,” she said.

Chebet, Kipyegon and Ngetich have their sights firmly on bettering the momentum set by track legends such as two-time world champions Hellen Obiri Vivian Cheruiyot, who also has two 10000m titles to her name.

Faith Cherotich is in Tokyo to make things happen in the women’s 3000m steeplechase as she takes on defending champion, Kenyan-born Winfred Yavi of Bahrain as Edmund Serem and Abraham Kbiwott look to dethrone Moroccan Sofiane El Bakkali.

Cherotich is following in the footsteps of Beatrice Chepkoech, the record holder in the water and barrier race.

“There are many of us who have the same ambitions (of clinching a world title). But I am going to fight and I will do all my best to achieve my goal. It will be a different result this time in Tokyo. You know, I have been still a junior coming to these events. But now, I am at my best. I have something to build on. When I was running these junior championships, I gained my confidence; I started to believe in myself. So now, I can build on it,” she said.

The men’s 3000m steeplechase squad is inspired by legendary performances of retired greats including four-time world champion Ezekiel Kemboi, Moses Kiptanui (three titles) and Wilson Boit Kipketer (one title).