Chebet eyes World Championship glory after bagging Stockholm Diamond League bragging rights
By Joel Sang, July 4, 2023After an impressive output in the Stockholm Diamond League Circuit on Sunday, July 2, 2023, Beatrice Chebet has now shifted her focus to the Budapest World Championship set for August this year.
The Commonwealth Games 5000m champion continued with a winning streak experienced this year as she recorded a new season best of 14:36.52 and saw off her closest challengers, Limb Hailu and Medina Eisa. Hailu finished second in 14:38.06, while Eisa finished third after running 14:40.02.
Tactful Chebet
Chebet showed her prowess when she demonstrated agility and tact in the last 300 metres to claim the first position amid stiff competition from the Ethiopians.
The 23-year-old was making her first season appearance over the 5000m at the Diamond League Circuit and became the only Kenyan to race against the Ethiopians.
And now Chebet is focused on the World Championship that will take place in Hungary in just over a month. In Oregon last year, the runner, who always trains in Londiani, Kericho County, claimed the silver medal.
“My main goal now is the new personal best at 5000m so maybe in London, if the conditions are good, I can try to do it. I feel in good shape, so anything is possible.
“I am already thinking about Budapest, where my main target is to get on the podium at 5000m,” Chebet said after beating an Ethiopian contingent that also had world cross-country silver medallist Tsigie Gerbresalama.
The win in Sweden was Chebet’s second in the 2023 Diamond League circuits after her victory in Olso, where she emerged the winner in the 3000m meters after timing 8:25.01 in the women’s race.
Chebet, who took the world U20 title in the 5000 m in 2018 and at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships, revealed that the weather conditions in Stockholm were not friendly.
“I was the only Kenyan in the race, and you know, the Ethiopians are strong and help each other, so I had to fight for this win. The first thing was to get the win [on Sunday], and the second was to fight with these conditions.
“Yes, the weather was not really good, but you need to run in any conditions. It was not easy to finish the race,” she continued.
National trials
But before Chebet gets to the Budapest World Championship, she is expected to compete on the London Diamond League Circuit. National trials have also been scheduled for the coming weekend at Nyayo Stadium, and she is expected to participate too.
With the expected participation of world record holder Faith Kipyegon, the 12-and-a-half lap race at the national trials in Nairobi is expected to be entertaining for the fans.
Chebet and Kipyegon have enjoyed fantastic forms this year, and their presence will spice up the competition. Although the duo is expected to fight for the available national slots, Kipyegon could prefer to choose her traditional 1500m discipline.
Margaret Chelimo, a world 10,000m bronze medalist, Lilian Kasait, who recently became a champion in the 5000m, Caroline Nyaga, Africa’s 5000m champion, Brenda Chebet, world cross country mixed relay champion; and world cross country bronze medalist Agnes Jebet Ngetich will also be fighting for tickets to the Budapesp Championship.