Paris 2024: Why Kenya's steeplechase future lies in 'Small Faith'

Kenya's Faith Cherotich celebrates after winning bronze in the Women's 3000m Steeplechase final at the 2024 Paris Olympics on Tuesday. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

Regarded as one of the most promising athletics talent in the world at the moment, Faith Cherotich also known to many as 'Small Faith' lived up to the billing to secure a podium finish at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The 20-year-old literally saved Kenya's blushes on what had appeared to be a disappointing outing for the athletics powerhouse inside the fully packed Stade de France, on Tuesday night.

Cherotich came to the French capital as a World 3000m steeplechase bronze medallist and World U20 champion, but left the electric stadium with a bronze on her neck on her Olympic debut.

With Tokyo Games silver medallist Timothy Cheruiyot and Brian Komen finishing in an embarrassing 11th and 12th positions respectively in the 1500m final on the same night, it was the youthful Cherotich who defied all the odds to redeem the country’s image by securing their fourth medal at the Games in an epic final.

She impressively clocked a personal best of 8:55.5 behind champion Kenyan-born Bahrain’ Winfred Yavi, who set an Olympic Record of 8:52.76, while dethroned champion Peruth Chemutai finished second  in a national record of 8:53.34.

But with world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech, who finished a distant fifth (9:04.24) transitioning to road races, the future of Kenya’s race is strongly in Cherotich's hands.

Kenya has never won the race since its inception in at the 2008 Beijing Games with Eunice Jepkorir (2008), and Hyvin Kiyeng (2016 Rio) the only athletes to clinch silver while Milcah Chemos (2012 London) and Kiyeng (2020 Tokyo) claimed bronze.

Though Cherotich has just started her senior career, she denies feeling any pressure as she dedicates the medal to her parents who keenly followed the race on television from Kericho County.

"I'm really excited for being considered as one of the future stars in this race. I don't feel any pressure and I believe I do it,” said Cherotich.

“I want to dedicate this medal to my beloved parents in Kericho. I talked to them before the race and urged them to pray for me, and I thank God for the achievement.”

She continued: “But honestly, that race wasn't easy. The pace increased after the bell was rang with both Yavi and Jeruth surging forward in the final stretch. But I told myself I must withstand this pace until the end, and I thank God I got a medal.

“I'm going back to work hard in training, especially on my speed.”

When asked what went in her mind after realising that Beatrice Chepkoech had fallen back in the last lap, Cherotich said: "When I noticed that Beatrice had reduced pace and remained behind, I became worried and I told myself I must do everything possible to get a medal for our country."

But for Chepkoech, who raced after battling with pneumonia, heaped praise on Cherotich saying that she is leaving the race in safe hands.

“I'm happy for Cherotich,  at least she fought hard and brought a medal for us. She is a strong athlete and I’m confident she is perfectly going to replace me in steeplechase. I think this was my last track. I'm heading for road races,” said Chepkoech.