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Double Olympic Champion Beatrice Chebet produced a masterclass performance to set a new World Record in the 5000m, (13:58.06) at the 50th edition of the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meet in Eugene, USA, on Saturday.
Chebet led from the gun to tape, breaking Gudaf Tsegay’s 2023 World Record ( 14:00.21) in the same venue, rewriting history as the first woman to run the 12.5-lap race in under 14 minutes.
It was in the same venue that Major Chebet, obliterated the 10,000m World Record during the Olympic trials a year ago.
10 km World Record holder Agnes Jebet Ng’etich outsprinted Tsegay to finish 2nd in 14:01.29, while the Ethiopian completed the podium positions with a seasonal best time of 14:04.41.
Japan-based Margaret Akidor took 4th position, joining her compatriots Chebet and Jebet Ngétich in Team Kenya for the World Athletics Championships set for Tokyo in September.
The trio – Chebet, Jebet and Akidor – will join defending champion Faith Kipyegon as Kenyan representatives in the 5000m at the 20th World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, in September this year.
The 10,000m men’s team for the World Championships will be composed of all debutants led by the 29-year-old Edwin Kurgat, 2021 World 5000m under-20champion Benson Kiplangat and 2023, World Cross Country Ishmael Rokitto Kipkurui.
Kurgat was the best-placed Kenyan in 4th position, timing 26:46.35, with Rokitto following in 5th at 26:47.72, while Kiplangat finished 6th after clocking 26:50.00.
Ethiopians claimed the top 3 positions, led by Biniam Mehary with a World Lead of 26:43.82, ahead of Berihu Aregawi and Selemon Barega, who finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively.
Kurgat, Rokitto and Kiplangat will carry the nation’s hopes of breaking a 24-year hoodoo since Kenya struck gold at the global championships.
The rest of Team Kenya is set to be named during the national trials to be held on the 22nd of this month at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
