Winfred Yavi has extended her winning streak to the Diamond League Meeting in Rome, Italy, striking a win in a meeting record time of 8:44.39.
Uganda’s Peruth Chemutai and Olympic 3000m Steeplechase bronze medallist Faith Cherotich finished second and third in respective times of 8:48.03 and 8:57.65.
Yavi was off to a great start, competing in her first race since the Paris Olympics exploits and she did not fail to disappoint as she looked comfortable throughout the race.
Yavi has raced sparingly this season, opening her 2024 with a ninth-place finish at the Prefontaine Classic before winning the Diamond League Meeting in Paris.
Yavi then proceeded to the Paris Olympics where she struck an Olympic record time of 8:52.76 to win the women’s title and has since extended her winning streak to Rome.
Going into the race, Uganda’s Chemutai and former Olympic champion was looking to stun the reigning world champion but she proved too strong of an opponent. Yavi tactically handled the race and held off Chemutai who was forced to finish second.
At the Paris Olympics, Yavi also silenced the Ugandan who was hoping to defend her title. From her dominant run, Yavi forced Chemutai to finish second in the hotly contested final.
On her part, Cherotich was looking to improve on her third-place finish at the Olympics but was forced to finish third as the battle was between Yavi and Chemutai. She has been primed as Kenya’s next big thing in athletics and will be out to show the world what she is capable of when she gains the right experience.
