- Anatasha Cheptoo won bronze in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase at the World U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.
- The 18-year-old says the medal is the start of a bigger international athletics journey.
- Cheptoo had hoped to share the podium with fellow Kenyan Mercy Chepng’eno, who did not finish the race.
- Her bronze follows last year’s African U20 title and a season of steady improvement in 2026.
- The Kenyan athlete plans to return to training immediately and use her government reward to support her parents.
Kenyan teenager Anatasha Cheptoo believes her bronze medal at the World Under-20 Championships in Eugene has opened the door to a much bigger future in athletics.
The 18-year-old produced a determined performance in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase final to finish third in 9:37.18. The result gave Kenya another medal at the championships and added a world podium finish to the African U20 title she won last year.
Ethiopia dominated the race, with Almaz Yohannis taking gold in a World U20-leading 9:15.81. Wosane Asefa completed an Ethiopian one-two by winning silver in 9:30.50.
Cheptoo stayed composed through the closing stages and held off challengers to secure bronze. She said the race demanded patience and determination after the pace increased in the second half.
“I pushed myself so that I could finish on the podium. I thank God for giving me the strength,” she said after the final.
Kenya had entered the final with two athletes, and Cheptoo said they had hoped to finish together on the podium. Those plans changed when fellow Kenyan Mercy Chepng’eno dropped out before the finish.
“We had planned to make the podium, the two of us. But after a few laps, I looked back, and I did not see Mercy,” Cheptoo explained.
With Chepng’eno out of contention, the pressure shifted entirely to Cheptoo to keep Kenya in the medal race.
Cheptoo first drew major attention at the 2025 African U20/U18 Championships in Nigeria, where she won the steeplechase title in 9:27.8. Kenya swept the podium in that race, with Chepng’eno second and Sharon Chepkemoi third.
That continental success convinced coaches that Cheptoo could compete strongly on the world stage. Her Eugene medal has now confirmed her status as one of Kenya’s most promising young distance runners.
Kenya has a rich history in the women’s steeplechase through athletes such as Olympic champion Faith Cherotich and former world champion Hyvin Kiyeng, and Cheptoo is seen as part of the next generation aiming for senior success.
Under the government’s athlete incentive programme, bronze medallists at the World U20 Championships receive Sh1 million. Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya recently announced the reward structure, which also includes Sh2 million for gold and Sh1.5 million for silver.
Cheptoo said she intends to use part of the money to help her parents, whom she credits for supporting her athletics journey from a young age.
“I am going to help my parents with the prize from my podium finish,” she said.
The bronze medal crowns a season of consistent improvement. Cheptoo began her year at the Addis Ababa Grand Prix in April, where she finished seventh in 10:16.86.
Six days later she placed fourth at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi in 10:03.49. She then finished third at the National Police Service Track and Field Championships before lowering her personal best to 9:33.80 at the National Championships on June 20, where she again finished third.
The progression from over 10 minutes in April to a sub-9:40 performance at the World U20 Championships highlights the rapid development she has made within a few months.
Cheptoo says she will not spend much time celebrating and plans to return to training immediately.
“I am now going back to training so that I can prepare for the next championship,” she said.
Coaches believe the experience gained in Eugene, including handling the pressure of a global final, will be valuable as she moves toward senior international competition. With an African title, a world medal and a rapidly improving personal best, Cheptoo leaves Eugene with growing confidence and higher ambitions for the years ahead.
