Timothy Cheruiyot/ FILE
Former world 1,500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot is banking on experience and renewed confidence to reignite his global dominance as he gears up for a record-extending sixth appearance at the World Championships in Tokyo this September.
The 2020 Olympic silver medallist headlines Kenya’s 1,500m team alongside in-form Reynold Cheruiyot and the promising Phanuel Koech, with eyes firmly set on reclaiming the title the country last won in Doha in 2019. Cheruiyot made his World Championships debut in Beijing 2015, placing seventh in 3:36.05.
Asbel Kiprop (3:34.40), Elijah Manangoi (3:34.63) and Morocco’s Abdelaati Iguider (3:34.67) completed the podium in that race.
He returned to London in 2017 to claim silver, clocking 3:33.99 behind Manangoi (3:33.61) before reaching the pinnacle of his career with a commanding gold in Doha two years later, clocking 3:29.26 to hold off Taoufik Makhloufi of Algeria (3:31.38) and Poland’s Marcin Lewandowski (3:31.46).
At the next edition in Eugene 2022, however, Cheruiyot missed the podium, finishing sixth in 3:30.69. Britain’s Jake Wightman (3:29.23), Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen (3:29.47) and Spain’s Mohamed Katir (3:29.90) claimed the podium. At the previous edition in Budapest 2023, Cheruiyot failed to make it past the semifinals, clocking 3:37.40 in his semifinal heat.
Cheruiyot insists the fire still burns. ”This will be my sixth World Championship appearance, and I feel great to have made the team,” Cheruiyot noted. ”My body is injury-free at the moment and my focus is just sharpening up my speed and being hopeful for good results at the World Championships,” he added.
Cheruiyot believes the team assembled to fly the nation’s flag in Tokyo is capable of delivering medals. ”The team is strong, we have Reynold and Phanuel, so if we have good teamwork work we can bring home medals,” he stated.
To fine-tune his speed and racing tactics, Cheruiyot will continue his build-up through the Diamond League circuit.
”I still have more Diamond League races because we are completing the Diamond League first before we go to the World Championships,” he noted. With Tokyo fast approaching, Cheruiyot knows this could be his shot at redemption and a reminder to the world that he’s not done yet.
”My season has been good so far. I started well. I have also been training outside, which has helped me a lot.”
Cheruiyot kicked off his 2025 campaign on February 8 with a cross-country race, placing third in the 2km loop (6:20). He then took part in the Miami Grand Slam Track in May, placing sixth in the 1,500m (3:35.61) and eighth in the 800m (1:47.12).
On June 6, he opened his Diamond League campaign with a second-place finish (3:29.75) in Rome before finishing fourth in the one Mile (3:49.06 in Oslo, six days later. His most recent outing on the circuit was on July 5 at the Prefontaine Classic, where he finished seventh in the Mile, clocking 3:47.71.
AloJapan.com