Kenya's Faith Rono wins Youth Olympic 3,000-metre gold; Kipkech and Chepkirui take silver

Kenya's Faith Rono won the women's 3,000 metres at the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar on 9 November in 9:15.47, beating Ethiopia's Yordanos Tsigab by 0.24 seconds, the official World Athletics result shows. Tsigab finished in 9:15.71 and Uganda's Keren Chelimo took bronze in a season's best of 9:32.41, giving East Africa all three medals. The final started at 15:03 Dakar time (18:03 EAT).

Minutes before Rono's race, Wesley Kiplagat Kipkech won silver for Kenya in the men's 2,000 metres steeplechase, Citizen Digital reported. World Athletics' report of the day gives his time as a personal best of 5:36.28, almost seven seconds behind Ethiopia's Junedin Abdo, who won in 5:29.30. Uganda's Michael Kibet took bronze in 5:39.50.

The two medals came on the second day of the athletics programme in Dakar, which runs from 8 to 10 November. On 8 November Abigael Kosgei won the women's 2,000 metres steeplechase in 6:30.24 and Enock Tuitoek the men's 3,000 metres in 8:07.69. World Athletics' medal table for the athletics events, as published on 10 November, had Kenya third with three gold medals and two silver, behind Ethiopia (five gold, three silver) and China (three gold, four silver, two bronze). Uganda won three bronze.

K24 Digital described a late surge by Rono at the Complexe Iba Mar Diop Stadium. "I had to maintain my speed, and when I saw my opponents coming, I decided to strike at that moment," she said, as quoted by K24. "I saw the finish line and I saw it was gold."

Rono is a Grade Nine pupil from Kericho who trains at Lemotit Athletics Club. She finished 19th in the 3,000 metres at the 2026 World Under-20 Championships in Oregon, United States, K24 reported.

The Kenyan news site The Eastleigh Voice reported that Rono controlled the pace over the first four laps before Tsigab challenged around the final bend. "My coach had told me to lead in the first four laps to test the waters and see the competitors," Rono said, as quoted by the site. "I let her go ahead to see her strength." She added: "I feel good winning a gold medal here because when I went to Oregon, the weather conditions were a bit harsh on me."

Kipkech, 17, is a student at St Francis Kimuron and was making his first appearance in the steeplechase, The Eastleigh Voice reported. In December 2025 he took silver in the 3,000 metres at the African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola, Citizen Digital's report from the Games shows. Abdo broke away with a burst of pace after the bell.

Kipkech said he had tried his best after moving from the 3,000 metres to the 2,000 metres steeplechase, as quoted by The Eastleigh Voice. "I was hoping to kick in the last lap, but I had some difficulties while crossing the water barrier to the bell."

Abdo's 5:29.30 was a world U18 best for the event contested with 84cm barriers, World Athletics said. His compatriot Meresa Kahsay holds the overall world U18 best of 5:19.99.

In the women's 3,000 metres, Argentina's Zoe Gorski finished fourth in 9:47.83, ahead of Portugal's Maria Clara Pires in 10:06.41.

Kenya's Abigael Chepkirui took silver in the women's 1,500 metres on 10 November, the last day of athletics in Dakar, in 4:29.86 behind Ethiopia's Elsabet Amare, who won in 4:28.02. Eritrea's Kanari Estifanos took bronze in 4:31.10 and Uganda's Baskaline Cherotwo was fifth in 4:33.75.