Timothy Cheruiyot not in a hurry to ditch 1500m

The former Olympic 1500m silver medallist says the metric mile remains his competitive home, with the longer distances serving mainly as a platform to build strength and endurance.

“Am still in the 1500m, and then I will test a little bit in the 5000m and 10,000m,” Cheruiyot said, making it clear that any transition will be gradual.

Many fans had expected 2026 to be the year Cheruiyot would fully step up in distance, especially after a 2025 season marked by flashes of grit and narrow misses against elite international fields.

He opened his 2025 global campaign at the Grand Slam Track, finishing sixth over 1500m in 3:35.61, before delivering one of his season’s best performances at the Meeting de Rome where he clocked 3:29.75 to finish second behind Azeddine Habz (3:29.72).

He also came close to the podium at the Oslo Bislett Games, placing fourth in the Mile in 3:49.06, before finishing seventh at the Prefontaine Classic in 3:47.71.

Cheruiyot rounded off his Diamond League season with strong finishes, taking second place at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial in Silesia clocking 3:33.35 and fourth at the Weltklasse Zürich in 3:30.13.

The 30-year-old believes expanding his racing range will offer tactical and physical growth without sacrificing his identity as one of Kenya’s greatest middle-distance runners.

Cheruiyot’s decorated career includes his 2019 world title in Doha, a silver medal at the 2017 world championships in London, five Diamond League final victories, and two Commonwealth Games silver medals.

Growing up in Singorwet village, Bomet County, Cheruiyot’s breakthrough came at the 2015 World Relays in the Bahamas, his first international race and first time travelling by air.

He sent an early season warning on February 14 at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour, finishing third in the men’s 2km race in 5:54 behind compatriots Reynold Cheruiyot (5:52) and Daniel Munguti (5:54) after a fierce sprint finish.