Cherotich and Wanyonyi Star as Kenya Dominates the 50th Allianz Memorial Van Damme
Author: Shadrack Kimeli / September 4, 2026
Brussels has hosted the Diamond League final twelve times, but the 50th edition of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme will be remembered as one of the meeting’s most Kenyan nights in years. On a stage built for milestones, Kenya delivered two of the biggest storylines of the evening: a commanding 1–2 finish in the women’s 3000m steeplechase and a statement win in the men’s 800m, turning the golden-anniversary meet into a showcase for the country’s depth in middle- and long-distance running.
Cherotich Leads a Kenyan 1–2 in the Women’s 3000m Steeplechase
World champion Faith Cherotich crossed the line first in 8:51.61, a meeting record and the fastest time ever run at the Memorial Van Damme. It capped a season in which Cherotich has been virtually untouchable, building on Diamond League steeplechase titles from previous years and cementing her position as the athlete to beat over the barriers and water jump.
Right behind her, compatriot Doris Lemngole produced the run of her career, clocking 8:52.86 for a personal best and second place. For a runner who has spent much of 2026 chasing the podium with a string of fourth-place finishes across the circuit this was the breakthrough moment fans had been expecting.
Why Doris Lemngole’s Run Matters Beyond the Result
Lemngole’s rise is also a useful case study in athlete development. She came through the NCAA collegiate system in the United States, a pathway that pairs university-level education with structured coaching and regular high-level competition. Her Brussels personal best is a reminder of how that model of education alongside elite training continues to produce Kenyan athletes capable of competing, and winning, on the world’s biggest one-day meeting stages.
Wanyonyi Claims the Men’s 800m Diamond Trophy
In the men’s 800m, 22-year-old Emmanuel Wanyonyi added another Diamond League trophy to his growing collection, winning in 1:41.80, another meeting record on the night. It was his latest win in a season that has already included a world-leading 800m time and a world record over 1000m, further establishing him as one of the sport’s most dominant two-lap runners heading into the next major championship cycle.
Two Wins, Two Records, One Golden Anniversary
Putting the night in perspective:
- Two individual Diamond League titles for Kenya (women’s 3000m steeplechase, men’s 800m)
- Two meeting records set in a single evening
- A Kenyan 1–2 in one of the night’s headline events
- All of it arriving during the 50th-anniversary edition of the Allianz Memorial Van Damme, one of the sport’s most historic one-day meetings
For a country already synonymous with distance running excellence, nights like this reinforce a simple message: Kenya isn’t just competing at the top of world athletics on evenings like this one in Brussels; it’s setting the pace.
Frequently Asked Questions
What time did Faith Cherotich run in the 3000m steeplechase at the 2026 Van Damme Memorial? Cherotich won in 8:51.61, a meeting record.
What was Doris Lemngole’s time in Brussels? Lemngole finished second in a personal best of 8:52.86.
What time did Emmanuel Wanyonyi run in the men’s 800m? Wanyonyi won in 1:41.80, also a meeting record.
Why is the 2026 Memorial Van Damme significant? It marked the meeting’s 50th edition and served as the final of the Wanda Diamond League season, held in Brussels, Belgium.
