Belgrade 2022: Tough test for Chebet, Jebitok in 3000m final

Kenya's hopes for a medal on the first day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Belgrade lie on the duo of Beatrice Chebet and Edna Jebitok. 

The two are in action in the women's 3000m final set for 20.25 pm as the penultimate event of the day. 

Chebet heads to the race having competed more in cross country, with four races at the start of the year. She has just one outing on the track, a fourth-place finish in Lievin over 3000m in 8:41.92. Jebitok, on her part, clocked a PB of 8:45.46 last month. 

"This is my first championship as a senior athlete and it is exciting to be representing my country. This is my fourth Indoor outing. My first was in Levin last year, then I did Madrid. I went back to levin this year and that has somehow prepared me for this moment. I am ready and will do my best," said Chebet in an interview with Athletics Kenya ahead of the team's departure for Serbia. 

The two face stiff competition from nemesis Ethiopia who have enjoyed dominance in this event over the past two decades, winning eight of the past nine women’s 3000m titles at the Championships.

In Belgrade, they look poised to continue that success through the formidable trio of Dawit Seyaum, Ejgayehu Taye and Lemlem Hailu.

Hailu secured her wild card spot by taking 3000m victory on last year’s World Athletics Indoor Tour, while Seyaum and Taye ensured selection by going 1-2 in Lievin last month, clocking 8:23.24 and 8:26.77 respectively.

Seyaum is better known as a 1500m runner, winning world indoor silver as a teenager back in 2016, but after missing last year’s track season she honed a strong endurance base for 2022 with a series of road races.

She looked back to her best when returning to the track last month, following her Lievin 3000m win with a 1500m victory in Birmingham in 4:04.35.

Belgrade 2022: D-Day for team Kenya as the World Athletics Indoor Championships gets underway

Taye was fifth in the Olympic 5000m final last year and ran an Ethiopian 3000m record of 8:19.52 weeks later, a performance that makes her a strong gold medal contender here. 

Hailu has raced just once this year, finishing second to Gudaf Tsegay over 1500m in Torun in 4:02.25.

Additional reporting by World Athletics.