Timothy Cheruiyot

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Timothy Cheruiyot
Meeting de Paris, Stade Charlety - 30 juin 2018 (43129940851).jpg
Cheruiyot at the Paris Diamond League in 2018
Personal information
Born (1995-11-20) 20 November 1995 (age 29)
Bomet, Kenya
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight65 kg (143 lb) [1]
Sport
Country Kenya
Sport Athletics
Event 1500 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s) 800 m: 1:43.11 (Nairobi 2019)
1500 m: 3:28.28 (Monaco 2021)
Mile: 3:49.64 (Eugene 2017)
2000 m: 5:03.05 (Nairobi 2020)
3000 m: 7:36.72 (Doha 2023)
5000 m: 13:47.2 (Nairobi 2020)
Medal record
Men's athletics
Representing Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Olympic Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2020 Tokyo 1500 m
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2019 Doha 1500 m
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2017 London 1500 m
Diamond League
Gold medal icon.svg 2017 1500 m
Gold medal icon.svg 2018 1500 m
Gold medal icon.svg 2019 1500 m
Gold medal icon.svg 2021 1500 m
Commonwealth Games
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2018 Gold Coast 1500 m
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2022 Birmingham 1500 m
African Championships
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2016 Durban 1500 m
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2018 Nigeria 1500 m

Timothy Cheruiyot (born 20 November 1995) [2] is a Kenyan middle-distance runner specialising in the 1500 metres. He is the 2020 Tokyo Olympic silver medallist in the event and the 11th fastest athlete all time over the distance. At the World Athletics Championships, Cheruiyot won the silver medal in 2017 in London, and a gold in 2019 in Doha.

Contents

He took the silver medal in his specialty event at the 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games, and is also a two-time African Championship silver medallist from 2016 and 2018. Cheruiyot won the 1500 m Diamond League title on four occasions: in 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2021.

Personal life & career

Cheruiyot is from the town of Singorwet, in Bomet County, Kenya, and lives on a farm with his family. Beginning in 2014, he began to train in the outskirts of Nairobi, via the Rongai Athletics Club, under Coach Bernard Ouma. [3]

Early Career: 2015-2018

2015

Cheruiyot's first major milestone in his career was competing on Kenya's Distance Medley Relay (DMR) team at the 2015 IAAF World Relays in The Bahamas. Team Kenya's goal was to improve on their existing DMR world record of 9:15.56 set back in 2006, but the new world record ended up going to the United States, in a time of 9:15.50, while Kenya finished second in a time of 9:17.20. Cheruiyot anchored this DMR (1600m leg) against the United States' Ben Blankenship. [4]

Cheruiyot would have a rematch against Blankenship three weeks later at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, in the men's International Mile. Blankenship won in a time of 3:55.72, while Cheruiyot finished 3rd in a time of 3:55.80. [5]

Cheruiyot then switched attention to the 1500 m at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing. Here, he made it through the rounds and took 7th place in the final in a time of 3:36.05. [6]

2016

In 2016, Cheruiyot won the 1500 m at the Rabat Diamond League, in a personal best time of 3:33.61. [7] He also took a silver medal in the 1500m at the African Championships in Durban (3:39.71), and finished 2nd in the Emsley Carr Mile (3:53.17) at the Anniversary Games in London. [8]

However, despite his successes, Cheruiyot took 4th place in the 1500 m final at the Kenyan Olympic Trials and was therefore unable to represent Kenya at the 2016 Rio Olympics. [2]

Although disappointed by not making Kenya's Olympic Team, Cheruiyot had another breakthrough by winning the 1500 m at the Brussels Diamond League, in a personal best time of 3:31.34. [9]

2017: World Silver Medallist & First Diamond League Title

On 18 June, Cheruiyot won the 1500 m at the Stockholm Diamond League in a new personal best of 3:30.77. [10] He followed it up by finishing second at the Kenyan World Championship Trials, qualifying him for the 2017 World Championships in London. [11] On 21 July, Cheruiyot finished second at the Monaco Diamond League in 3:29.10, his first time under the 3:30-barrier. [12]

At the aforementioned World Championships, Cheruiyot won the silver medal, finishing behind compatriot Elijah Manangoi. [13] In his final race of the season, Cheruiyot won at the Diamond League Final in a time of 3:33.93. [14] [15]

2018

At the Commonwealth Games held on the Gold Coast, Cheruiyot claimed the silver medal in the 1500 m. On 12 May, he won the Shanghai Diamond League in a time of 3:31.48. [16] He continued his good form by winning the mile at the Prefontaine Classic in 3:49.87. [17] He went on to win at the Monaco Diamond League on 20 July, running 3:28.41 - a time which would be the world lead for the 2018 season. [18] [19] Cheruiyot won at the Diamond League Final in Zurich, in a time of 3:30.27. [20]

At the end of the season, Cheruiyot was nominated for World Athletics Male Athlete of the Year. [21]

2019: World Champion

On 30 June, Cheruiyot won the mile at the Prefontaine Classic in 3:50.49. [22] He also won over 1500 m at the Laussane and Monaco Diamond Leagues in 3:28.77 and 3:29.97, respectively. [23] [24] On 22 August, Cheruiyot won the 800 m at the Kenyan National Championships, in a time of 1:43.11, his first time under the 1:44-barrier. He then won over 1500 m at the Kenyan World Championship Trials on 13 September to secure his place at the World Championships in Doha. [25] At the World Championships, Cheruiyot won gold in the 1500 m. In a "superb display of dominance", he won by 2.12 s, the largest winning margin in World Championship 1500 m history. [26]

2020-2021: Covid Pandemic and Olympic Silver Medal

After the COVID-19 Pandemic disrupted the 2020 season, Cheruiyot was forced to compete less frequently. He won the Kenyan race over 2000 m at the Impossible Games, beating Elijah Manangoi. However, he lost the overall race to "Team Ingebrigtsen" who were competing in Oslo. [27] He set the world lead for the 2020 season at the Monaco Diamond League, running 3:28.47. [28] [29]

In 2021, Cheruiyot opened his season by winning the Doha Diamond League in 3:30.48. [30] He finished a shock fourth at the Kenyan Olympic Trials, failing to qualify for the Olympics. [31] However, he was allowed to compete as second-placer Kamar Etyang was barred for participating due to not meeting anti-doping rules. [32] He recovered from his upset to win at the Stockholm Diamond League in 3:32.40. [33] He also picked up the win at the Monaco Diamond League, setting a new personal best of 3:28.28. [34]

At the Tokyo Olympics, Cheruiyot won silver in the 1500 m. Cheruiyot led for the majority of the race, however was overtaken by Jakob Ingebrigtsen on the final turn. He held off the fast-finishing Josh Kerr who took bronze. [35] He ended his season by winning the Diamond League Final in Zurich with a time of 3:31.27. [36]

2022: Commonwealth silver medal

Cheruiyot began his 2022 season with a 2nd-placed finish at the Doha Diamond League and a 3rd placed finished over the mile at the Prefontaine Classic. [37] [38] He finished second at the Kenyan World Championship Trials to qualify for the 2022 World Championships, where he finished sixth in a season's best of 3:30.69. [39] [40]

At the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, Cheruiyot won the silver medal behind Ollie Hoare in a time of 3:30.21. [41] He was unable to win his fifth successive Diamond League title as he finished second at the Diamond League Final on 8 September. [42] [43]

2023

Cheruiyot opened his 2023 season with a 3,000 m race at the Doha Diamond League, finishing 5th in a time of 7:36.72. [44] He returned to winning ways over 1500 m at the Los Angeles Grand Prix, running 3:31.47. [45] On 15 June, Cheruiyot competed at the Oslo Diamond League, running a season's best of 3:29.08 to finish fourth. [46] After winning the Kenyan World Championship Trials in a sprint finish, Cheruiyot was named in the team for the World Championships. [47] [48]

At the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, Cheruiyot was eliminated in the semi-finals of the 1500 m. [49] After the Championships, he revealed he had been struggling with a knee injury and would miss the rest of the season. [50]

2024

On 10 May, Cheruiyot competed at the Doha Diamond League, finishing second as part of a Kenyan 1-2-3 alongside Brian Komen and Reynold Cheruiyot, in a time of 3:32.67. [51] At the Oslo Diamond League on 30 May, Cheruiyot finished second, being narrowly pipped on the line by a diving Jakob Ingebrigtsen, in a season's best of 3:29.77. [52] [53] At the Kenyan Olympic Trials, Cheruiyot finished third in the 1500 m to qualify for the Paris Olympics. [54] In July, He once again finished second behind Jakob Ingebrigtsen at the Monaco Diamond League, running a season's best of 3:28.71. [55]

At the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Cheruiyot finished 11th in the 1500 m, having tried to go with the early pace he faded badly over the last lap. [56] He recovered from his dissapointment to win over 800 m at the Grand Prix Lombardia in Brescia and finish second over 1500 m at the Diamond League Final in Brussels. [57] [58]

In November, Cheruiyot expressed his desire to retire from the 1500 m after the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, and transition to long-distance running and marathons. [59]

Achievements

International competitions

Representing Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
2015 IAAF World Relays Nassau, Bahamas2ndDistance medley relay 9:17.20
World Championships Beijing, China7th1500 m 3:36.05
2016 African Championships Durban, South Africa2nd1500 m 3:39.71
2017 World Championships London, United Kingdom2nd1500 m 3:33.99
2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Coast, Australia2nd1500 m 3:35.17
African Championships Asaba, Nigeria2nd1500 m 3:35.93
2019 World Championships Doha, Qatar1st1500 m 3:29.26
2021 Olympic Games Tokyo, Japan2nd1500 m 3:29.01
2022 World Championships Eugene, United States6th1500 m 3:30.69
Commonwealth Games Birmingham, United Kingdom2nd1500 m 3:30.21
2023 World Championships Budapest, Hungary23rd (sf)1500 m 3:37.40
2024 Olympic Games Paris, France11th1500 m 3:31.35

Diamond League wins and titles

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing Nike
2016 Meeting de Rabat Rabat, Morocco1st1500m3:33.61
Memorial Van Damme Brussels, Belgium1st1500m3:31.34
2017 BAUHAUS-galan Stockholm, Sweden1st1500m3:30.77
Diamond blue.svg Weltklasse Zürich Zürich, Switzerland1st1500m3:31.34
2018 Diamond League Shanghai Shanghai, China1st1500m3:31.48
Prefontaine Classic Eugene, United States1stOne Mile3:49.87
Golden Gala Rome, Italy1st1500m3:31.22
Meeting de Paris Paris, France1st1500m3:29.71
Herculis Monaco, Monaco1st1500m3:28.41
Diamond blue.svg Weltklasse Zürich Zürich, Switzerland1st1500m3:30.27
2019 BAUHAUS-galan Stockholm, Sweden1st1500m3:32.47
Prefontaine Classic Eugene, United States1stOne Mile3:50.49
Athletissima Lausanne, Switzerland1st1500m3:28.77
Herculis Monaco, Monaco1st1500m3:29.97
Diamond blue.svg Memorial Van Damme Brussels, Belgium1st1500m3:30.22
2020 Herculis Monaco, Monaco1st1500m3:28.45
BAUHAUS-galan Stockholm, Sweden1st1500m3:35.79
2021 Doha Diamond League Doha, Qatar1st1500m3:30.48
BAUHAUS-galan Stockholm, Sweden1st1500m3:32.30
Herculis Monaco, Monaco1st1500m3:28.28
Diamond blue.svg Weltklasse Zürich Zürich, Switzerland1st1500m3:31.37

National championships

YearCompetitionVenuePositionEventNotes
Representing Nike
2014 Kenyan Championships Nairobi 7th800 m1:47.32
Kenyan Junior Championships3rd800 m1:45.92
2015Kenyan Championships2nd1500 m3:39.25
Kenyan World Championship Trials5th1500 m3:34.86
2016Kenyan Championships2nd1500 m3:37.04
Kenyan Olympic Trials Eldoret 4th1500 m3:39.30
2017Kenyan Championships Nairobi 1st1500 m3:41.0
Kenyan World Championship Trials2nd1500 m3:31.05
2018Kenyan Commonwealth Games Trials1st1500 m3:34.84
Kenyan Championships1st1500 m3:34.82
2019Kenyan Championships1st800 m1:43.11
Kenyan World Championship Trials1st1500 m3:34.91
2021Kenyan Olympic Trials4th1500m3:34.62
2022Kenyan Championships6th1500m3:37.81
Kenyan Commonwealth Games / World Championships Trials2nd1500m3:34.59
2023Kenyan Championships3rd800m1:45.10
Kenyan World Championship Trials1st1500m3:34.01
2024Kenyan Championships3rd800m1:45.65
Kenyan Championships4th1500m3:40.23
Kenyan Olympic Trials 3rd1500m3:35.90

Personal bests and World Rankings

Personal bests

Progression

YearTimeEventLocationDay
20153:34.86Kenyan World Championship Trials Nairobi, KenyaAugust 1
20163:31.34Brussels Diamond League Meeting Brussels, BelgiumSeptember 9
20173:29.10Monaco Diamond League Meeting Monaco, MonacoJuly 21
20183:28.41Monaco Diamond League MeetingJuly 20
20193:28.77Lausanne Diamond League Meeting Lausanne, SwitzerlandJuly 5
20203:28.45Monaco Diamond League Meeting Monaco, MonacoAugust 14
20213:28.28Monaco Diamond League MeetingJuly 9
20223:30.212022 Commonwealth Games Birmingham, United KingdomAugust 6
20233:29.08Oslo Diamond League Meeting Oslo, NorwayJune 15
20243:28.71Monaco Diamond League Meeting Monaco, MonacoJuly 12

World Rankings

YearRank
20166th
20172nd
20181st
20191st
2020N/A
20212nd
20223rd

References

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