Kenya Eyes 1500m Medal Sweep with Kipyegon, Chepchirchir, and Ewoi

Kipyegon leads Kenyan charge in 1500m Final

Faith Kipyegon, Nelly Chepchirchir, and Dorcas Ewoi qualify for the 1500m final, with Kipyegon predicting a Kenyan medal sweep.

“I am so grateful and amazed. We gave it our all today, and I don’t know what will happen on Tuesday...”

Triple world champion Faith Kipyegon is optimistic about Kenya's chances of sweeping the medals in the women's 1500m race at the World Championships in Tokyo. She believes that with three Kenyan athletes in the final, including herself, Nelly Chepchirchir, and Dorcus Ewoi, the country has a strong chance of dominating the podium.

Kipyegon demonstrated her exceptional skill by winning her semi-final with an impressive time of 4:00.34, securing her spot in the final. Chepchirchir also excelled, topping her semi-final heat with a time of 4:06.86, narrowly edging out Australia's Jessica Hull by 0.01 seconds. Ewoi, meanwhile, finished second in her heat with a remarkable time of 4:00.65, showcasing the depth of Kenyan middle-distance running.

With Kipyegon, Chepchirchir, and Ewoi in the final, Kenya's prospects for a clean sweep of medals appear promising. Kipyegon, a four-time world champion and world record holder, will likely lead the charge for Kenya. Chepchirchir, who finished fifth in the 2023 world final, has expressed confidence in her abilities after a successful season, including winning the Diamond League final in Zurich.

Kipyegon's Confident Prediction

Faith Kipyegon expressed confidence in Kenya's chances, stating, “We are going for 1-2-3 in the final.” This ambitious goal follows her impressive performance, where she won her semi-final with a time of 4:00.34, accompanied by fellow Kenyan athletes Nelly Chepchirchir and Dorcus Ewoi, who also qualified for the final.

“Our biggest goal before the race was the four of us to make it to the final, but unfortunately Susan (Ejore) didn’t make it, but the three of us who made it hope for the best, and we hope this time round we are going to do a top three finish in the final coming up on Tuesday,” said Kipyegon, who is the only three-time Olympic champion in the 1500m, having won a gold medal each at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2020 Tokyo, and the 2024 Paris Olympics.

That final look and embrace from Faith Kipyegon to Dorcas Ewoi was pure Kenyan spirit.🇰🇪🥹

Driving her all the way in the 1500m Heat 1, lifting her energy to the finish. A 1–2 qualification.

Faith’s vibe is simply unmatched. So proud of her#TeamKenya pic.twitter.com/uNTKDcwEXa

— Staphey Wairimu (@StapheyWairimu) September 14, 2025

On how she anticipates the final to be like, Kipyegon responded: “Every year is very different, every year comes with a different game plan, and you see what is happening now, many people are falling out, so that is my worry but I hope on Tuesday, I will stay focused, and be myself towards the biggest goal, and we hope we will do our best to make sure that we do a beautiful race.”

She concluded: “Crossing that finish line filled me with so much joy, and when I looked back and saw Dorcus (Ewoi) right behind me, my heart was even happier. This moment means everything, and now it’s up to us to give our very best in the finals on Tuesday.”

Faith Kipyegon made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics by becoming the first athlete to win three consecutive gold medals in the 1500m women's race, setting a new Olympic record with a time of 3:51.29. She demonstrated exceptional determination and skill, outpacing her competitors in the final stretch.

In the same Olympics, Kipyegon also secured a silver medal in the women's 5000m event. Initially, she faced disqualification for obstruction, but a successful appeal by Team Kenya officials led to her reinstatement, confirming her silver medal position behind compatriot Beatrice Chebet. Kipyegon's remarkable performance in Paris solidified her position as one of the greatest middle-distance runners in history.

That final look and embrace from Faith Kipyegon to Dorcas Ewoi was pure Kenyan spirit.🇰🇪🥹

Driving her all the way in the 1500m Heat 1, lifting her energy to the finish. A 1–2 qualification.

Faith’s vibe is simply unmatched. So proud of her#TeamKenya pic.twitter.com/uNTKDcwEXa

— Staphey Wairimu (@StapheyWairimu) September 14, 2025

Dorcas Ewoi's Grateful Acknowledgment

Dorcas Ewoi expressed her heartfelt gratitude and happiness after qualifying for the women's 1500m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. She credited her success to running alongside four-time world champion Faith Kipyegon, stating, “I am so grateful and amazed. We gave it our all today, and I don’t know what will happen on Tuesday. Running alongside Faith was incredible; she really helped me. It was a huge motivation, and she truly inspired me.” Ewoi finished strongly in second place with a personal best of 4:00.65, securing her spot in the final alongside Kipyegon and fellow Kenyan Nelly Chepchirchir.

Ewoi, based in the United States, has had an impressive track record. She finished fifth at the 2023 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships before turning professional with Puma. In 2024, she made a notable victory by defeating Olympic gold medalist Athing Mu at the Holloway Pro Classic 2024 World Athletics Continental Tour Silver meeting. This experience has likely contributed to her confidence and performance in the championships.