Double world record holder over 5,000m and 10,000m, Beatrice Chebet is bullish about securing a hat-trick of titles at the World Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, next year to garnish her already rich trophy cabinet.
Chebet claimed her maiden World Cross Country title in Bathurst, Australia, in 2023, stopping the clock in 33:48. Ethiopian Tsigie Gebreselama placed second in 33:56 with compatriot Agnes Ng’etich rounding off the podium in 34:00.
Further, Chebet was instrumental in assisting Team Kenya claim the overall women’s title with a score of 16 ahead of Ethiopia (25) and Uganda (41).
She then defended her title last year in Belgrade, Serbia, clocking 31:05 to lead a Kenyan top-five finish.
Lilian Kasait settled for silver in 31:08, with Margaret Kipkemboi closing out the podium in 31:09. Just like in Bathurst 2023, Chebet also helped Team Kenya scoop the overall women’s title, finishing with a score of 10, with Ethiopia (41) and Uganda (44) rounding off the podium.
Chebet announced that the Florida showdown, next year, will be another big step for her in her young, illustrious athletic career.
“My preparation is good, and I believe going to the World Cross Country will be another step for my career,” Chebet said.
The 25-year-old is part of a squad of seven female runners who will fly Kenya’s flag in America next year. She will be joined by world 10km record holder Ng’etich, Maurine Chebor, Brenda Chepchumba, Glorious Jepkirui, Lilian Kasait and Rebecca Mwangi (reserve).
Further, Chebet’s form on the cross-country circuit this year has been exceptional, having opened her season with a strong triumph at the LXXXI Elgoibar Cross Country in Spain on January 5, clocking 25:49.
Looking ahead, Chebet hopes to extend her dominance on the track to the coming World Championships and Olympic Games. “After coming from the Tokyo World Championships, I saw that I had won almost everything.”
“What I want to do now is make more history by winning multiple World Championships and multiple Olympic Games.”
“That is the target for the coming years for me,” she added.
At the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, Chebet secured a sensational distance sweep, claiming the 5,000m (14:28.56) and 10,000m (30:43.25) titles.
She extended that top form to the Tokyo World Championships in September this year, securing yet another distance double over 5,000m (14:54.36) and 10,000m (30:37.62).
To add yet more accolades to her glittering track resume, Chebet holds both the 5,000m and 10,000m world records.
She set the 5,000m world mark on July 5 this year at the Prefontaine Classic, clocking 13:58.06 to become the first woman in history to dip under 14 minutes.
Her time eclipsed the previous mark of 14:00.21 set by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay in September 2023 at the Pre Classic.
Chebet set the 10,000m record at the same course at the Prefontaine Classic last year, stopping the clock in 28:54.14 — the first woman in history to dip under 29 minutes.
Her mark eclipsed the previous record of 29:01.03, held by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey from Hengelo 2021.
