Following a superb display, Beatrice Chebet shattered a 24-year-old record in the Oslo Diamond League on Thursday, June 15.

The Commonwealth Games champion sprinted in eight minutes and 25.01 seconds and this also marked her new personal record and world-leading time.

Meanwhile, Lillian Kasait – a former World U18 3000m champion – also ran a new personal best of eight minutes, 25.90 seconds, as Margaret Chelimo came in third with eight minutes, 26.14 seconds. Kenya completed a podium sweep with a 1-2-3 finish.

Chebet vs Kasait

It was all Chebet and Kasait before the former overtook the latter in the final 200 metres bend.

The performance at the Diamond League is another star in Chebet’s career. On June 18, 2018, she won the Kenyan U20 5000 metres and became the first Kenyan woman and the first non-Ethiopian since 2006 to win the 5000 m title at the U20 World Championship in athletics.

The Thursday night achievement is another milestone for Chebet, who has had an impressive career. Her career highlight was when she won her first gold medal at the World Athletics U20 Championships in Tampere, Finland, when she was 18.

She emerged the winner after a grueling competition in the final 400 metres against Ejgayehu Taye of Ethiopia but the Kenyan edged her rival off at the finish line by a mere 0.10. Girmawit Gebrzihair, another Ethiopian, completed the podium finish.

Chebet and Alemitu Tariku and Tsigie Gebreselama were all awarded the time of 20:50 at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships although Tariku was initially announced as the winner, with Gebreselama awarded silver. The changes were made after a review of the photo finish footage.

Chebet’s career

 Chebet’s best success came in July 2022 at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, and at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. She won the silver medal in the 5000 metre race with a time of 14:46.75, as Gudaf Tsegay claimed gold in 14:46.29 and Dawit Seyaum came third in 14:47.36).

In 2022, she won the silver medal in the 5000 metres at the World Championships and became a Commonwealth, African, and Diamond League champion.

Chebet has been establishing herself as a force in the athletics world, especially in the 500 metres races. The 23-year-old, who has been training in Kericho County, has also won the African U20 title in 2019 and the African senior title in 2022 in Mauritius.

On her part, Kasait continues to prove herself after initially serving a 10-month doping ban. The ban came after she was found to have used a prohibited substance by the sport’s Athletic Integrity Unit. She finished 12th in the 5,000 metres final at the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo.

She is a former world U18 3,000m champion and had her results annulled on January 20, 2022, after she provided her positive sample. The ban on the former All-African Games and national champion ran from April 2022 to February 2023.

The ban was meted out after she admitted using the prohibited substance.

Meanwhile, Chebet, Kasait, and Chelimo’s performance in Oslo came after Faith Kipyegon broke a world record in the previous circuits held in Florence, Italy, and Paris, France.

Ruto’s commitment

Kipyegon’s performance saw President William Ruto announce that the government will roll out a special package for performing athletes.

The head of state also said athletes who perform in their various disciplines will be given diplomatic passports. According to Ruto, the document will help athletes move around the world with ease.

Ruto also acknowledged the positive national branding of the athletes.

It is now a case of waiting and seeing if the government is going to implement the promises made by the president. If implemented, the athletes will be motivated to perform even better on international stages.