Chemutai surges to the Steeplechase Final at Tokyo Worlds
David GOMBE
Uganda’s medal hopeful Peruth Chemutai stormed to the 3000m Steeplechase final at the 2025 World Athletics Championship in Tokyo.
The 2020 Olympic champion won her heat three in a time of 9:07.68 to secure a place in the medal race.
Chemutai was the fastest of all the athletes who made it to Wednesday’s final.
Kenya’s Doris Lemngole and Ethiopian Lomi Muleta were second and third in Chemutai’s heat.
Tokyo is where Chemutai made history as the first Ugandan female athlete to clinch Olympic gold or any medal at the games during the 2020 Olympics games that were held in 2021.
Loice Chekwemoi posted a personal best of 9:25.34 but couldn’t make it to the final since she finished eighth with the top five in each heat advancing.
Chemutai will seek to dethrone the defending world champion and Olympic gold medalist Winfred Yavi from Bahrain who also secured a place in the final after winning heat two in 9:15.63.
At the Paris Olympics last year, Yavi beat Chemutai to gold with the Ugandan settling for silver.
Uganda has won 13 medals at the World Championship, four by the golden Joshua Cheptegei. At the Tokyo Worlds, Uganda is yet to medal.