Around the same period she began to make progress on the track. After winning the silver medal at the 2004 African Championships in Athletics, she ran for Kenya at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics, coming seventh in her global senior 5000 m debut. She was also eighth over 3000 metres at the 2005 IAAF World Athletics Final. Cherono won her first world track medal at the 2007 World Championships in Athletics, taking the bronze medal just behind her compatriot Vivian Cheruiyot. Two further bronzes came at the 2007 IAAF World Athletics Final, where she reached the podium over both the 3000 m and 5000 m events. She also ran a Kenyan record for the two miles run at the Memorial Van Damme with her time of 9:14.09 minutes, although she was beaten by Meseret Defar who set a world record.