Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet lit up the track at the Rome Diamond League on Friday night, delivering a stunning performance that left fans around the world talking. The 25-year-old stormed to victory in the women’s 5000m race, running the second fastest time ever recorded, just 2.5 seconds shy of the world record.
Chebet crossed the finish line in 14 minutes and 3.69 seconds, crushing the competition and setting a new world lead, meet record, and Kenyan national record. She was simply untouchable on the track.
“I just focused on my race and trusted my training,” Chebet said after the race, her calm confidence reflecting the control she displayed throughout the run.
This win adds another highlight to Chebet’s incredible season. Just recently in Rabat, she smashed the African 3000m record with a time of 8:11.56, the second fastest in history for that distance. Only China’s Wang Junxia has run faster, way back in 1993.
In Rome, Ethiopia’s Hailu Freweyni, a two-time world indoor champion, took second in a personal best of 14:19.33, while Italy’s Nadia Battocletti, the Olympic 10,000m silver medallist, finished third with a national record of 14:23.15. The current 5000m world record holder, Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia, surprisingly ended up fifth in 14:24.86.
This was the second time this season Chebet outpaced Tsegay. The two had already clashed in April at the Xiamen meet, where Chebet narrowly beat her by one second.
Over on the men’s side, Kenya’s Timothy Cheruiyot returned to form in the 1500m, finishing second in 3:29.75. France’s Azeddine Habz edged him out by a whisker, winning in 3:29.72. Behind them, Benson Kiplagat, the 2022 World U20 champ, came sixth, while Brian Komen, the African champion, finished eighth.
In the men’s 100m, it was all about Trayvon Bromell, who sped to victory in 9.84 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. Emmanuel Eseme followed in 9.99s, with Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala close behind in 10.01s, taking third.
From Chebet’s historic run to strong showings across the board, Rome delivered a night of world-class performances. And with the Paris Olympics on the horizon, it’s clear that Chebet and Team Kenya are peaking at just the right time.
By Yockshard Enyendi