World Athletics Championships 2025: Faith Kipyegon Leads Kenyan Quartet to 1500m Semis

Four Kenyan women, Faith Kipyegon, Susan Ejore, Dorcus Ewoi and Nelly Chepchirchir lined up for the women's 1500m heats at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, looking to secure slots in the semifinal and eventually in the final.

Nelly Chepchirchir and Faith Kipyegon have had particularly splendid seasons, with the former only losing one 1500m race, at the Diamond League Meeting in Brussels. Her last race before the World Championships was the Diamond League meeting final in Zurich where she walked away with the trophy.

Faith Kipyegon, the defending champion, has had a historic season so far, breaking her world record at the Prefontaine Classic and also attempting to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes. US-based stars, Susan Ejore and Dorcus Ewoi have also enjoyed their seasons.

The first heat comprised Jessica Hull, who is a favourite to medal, lining up against youngster Dorcus Ewoi, who will be making her Team Kenya debut. Home talent Nozomi Tanaka was also in the mix, with home fans going wild watching her.

After the first lap, the women looked easy, with Sinclaire Johnson controlling the pace and Nozomi Tanaka looking to give fans a great show. Dorcus Ewoi was running in seventh place.

Johnson, on the inside lane, looked very comfortable, with Nozomi Tanaka aiming to find her place at the front. Jessica Hull was running on the outside, with the crowd getting very excited seeing Nozomi Tanaka trying to make a mark.

Dorcus Ewoi was running from the outside after a quiet better part of the race, hoping to finish in the top six and make the semifinal. Eventually, it was the Olympic 1500m silver medallist who took the win in a time of 4:04.40, with Johnson and Gaia Sabbatini finishing second and third in 4:04.59 and 4:04.93, respectively.

Dorcus Ewoi finished fourth with Marta Perez and Weronika Lizakowska finishing fifth and sixth to secure slots in the semifinal.

Nelly Chepchirchir, after a stunning season campaign, was lining up with the much-needed confidence to dominate past the heats and hopefully even get to the final.

Linden Hall was also in the mix, looking to cement her place and as they headed towards the bell, Nelly Chepchirchir was not going to let anyone take a place she has worked for for years.

Coming out from the outside, Nelly Chepchirchir overtook Linden Hall, taking the win in 4:07.01 ahead of Klaudia Kazimierska and Salome Afonso, who finished second and third in 4:07.34 and 4:07.44.

Linden Hall, American Emily Mackay and Revee Walcott-Nolan finished fourth, fifth and sixth to secure their slots in the semifinal.

Home talent, Tomoka Kimura was looking to redeem the fans' morale, especially after Nozomi Tanaka failed to impress, missing out on the semifinal.

American Nikki Hiltz and Susa Ejore, who represented Kenya at the Paris Olympic Games last year, were also looking to make a mark, after tasting what it means to compete on the global stage. Olympic

Tomoka Kimura was unfourtunately boxed, with Freyweni Hailu, watching from a distance and after being selected as a reserve and then later given a chance to eplace Diribe Welteji, she was keen on proving a point.

At the bell, there was a lot of pushing and shoving, with the world indoor champion, Hailu, leading from the front with Hiltz and Ejore still very much in the mix.

Freweyni Hailu went ahead to claim the win in a very composed performance, clocking 4:01.23 to cross the finish line ahead of Nikki Hiltz and Susan Ejore, who clocked 4:01.73 and 4:01.99. Gabriela Debues-Stafford, Agathe Guillemot and Sophie O''Suvillan also secured their slots in the semifinal.

Passing the first lap, Faith Kipyegon was staying out of trouble and conserving her energy, not staying involved in the drama of the 1500m.

Laura Muir and Marta Zenoni were taking turns in the front as the athletes completed the second lap. Laura Muir, not as keen as other athletes, was forced to drop through the ranks and sadly missed out on the slot in the semifinal.

Faith Kipyegon claimed top honours in 4:02.55 ahead of Sarah Madeliene and Sarah Healy who finished second and third.