Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet will go head to head against 10 km World Record holder and close friend Agnes Jebet Ngétich, in the 5000m trials for the World Athletics Championships this Saturday 5th July at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in Eugene, USA.
Athletics Kenya will use the Prefontaine Classic to select a team for the World Athletics Championship in 10,000m men and 5,000m women.
After finishing second in Budapest in 2023 behind Faith Kipyegon in the 5,000 metre race, Chebet who has been in a dazzling form since capturing two gold medals at the Paris Olympics will be anxious to punch her ticket to Tokyo.
The 24-year-old will compete against a strong field that includes Agnes Jebet Ngetich, who holds the world record for 10 kilometres, former 10,000m All African champion Caroline Nyaga, Margaret Akidor, African games silver medallist Janeth Chepngetich, Hellen Ekalale, Caroline Kariba, Sarah Wanjiru and Maurine Chebor.
In addition to trying to secure a ticket to Tokyo, Chebet will be eager to extend her lead in the Diamond League standings as she aims for a fourth win over the distance this season.
The top three finishers will book their slots for the World Championships alongside the defending champion Faith Kipyegon.
Chebet will also be going back to the familiar hunting ground where, a year ago, she set the new world record for the 10,000-meter race running 28:54.14,becoming fisrt woman run sub 29 earning a spot in the Paris Olympics.
Chebet has already earned a spot at the Diamond League finals, which will take place in Zurich from August 27 to 28.
There, she will have another opportunity to earn a spot at the Tokyo World Athletics Championships if she finishes out of the top three this weekend.
At the World Championships, Kenyan women have excelled in the 5000m.
Vivian Cheruiyot won gold in 2009 and 2011, before passing the baton to Hellen Obiri, who replicated the result wining in 2017 and 2019 and after which Faith Kipyegon,claimed the title in 2023 in Budapest,Hungary ahead of Beatrice Chebet who settled for silver.
Twelve athletes will fight for a maximum of three spots at the global championships in the men’s 10,000m.
Silver medalist in 2022 Stanley Waithaka Mburu, will compete against experienced Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, former 5000m under-20 champion Benson Kiplangat, Richard Etir, Ishmael Rokitto, Mathew Kipruto, Mathew Kipsang, Robert Kiprop, Edwin Kurgat, Samwel Chebolei, and Gideon Rono.
Kenya last won a World Championship gold in the men’s 10,000 metres in 2001,through Charles Kamathi who followed the footsteps of Paul Kipkoech and Moses Tanui who had won gold in the 1987 and 1991 editions.
