Beatrice Chebet. Photo/courtesy.
Beatrice Chebet shined in the 5000 meters at the Zurich Diamond League, showcasing her exceptional form just weeks after her historic double Olympic gold achievement in Paris.
Chebet crossed the finish line in a time of 14:09.52, setting a new meet record. However, she fell short of the world record of 14:00.21, held by Gudaf Tsegay.
Initially, Chebet seemed ready to challenge Tsegay’s world record pace, maintaining a competitive rhythm for the first eight minutes. Yet, as the race progressed, the pace lights guiding her began to drift, signaling that the world record would not be within reach.
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Despite this obstacle, Chebet pushed through and secured a commanding victory, finishing with a significant lead over Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, who took second place.
In a commanding performance, Chebet even lapped Gela Hamsebe during the final lap, prompting her to accelerate further. Although the world record remained intact, Chebet’s performance in Zurich will be a source of pride as she continues her pursuit of greatness.
Reflecting on the race, Chebet conveyed a mix of joy and frustration: “I ran a world-leading time, but the weather wasn’t conducive to a world record. I want to thank God and the fans.”
“I had hoped for the world record, but the conditions weren’t right. The pacemaker was meant to guide us until 3000 meters, but she dropped out earlier, forcing me to exert extra effort. It was challenging,” she concluded.
Despite the difficulties, Chebet stayed positive: “I’m thrilled with the world-leading time. I wasn’t even fatigued in the second half of the race, although I did get spiked at the start, and my leg is bleeding. I plan to compete in Brussels, but I need to discuss another attempt at the world record with my coach. I’m not sure I can manage it in 2024, but we’ll definitely try again next year.”
