Brussels DL: Agnes Jebet dominates in 5000m as Omanyala's search for sub-10 continues

World 10km record holder Agnes Jebet stormed to victory at the Brussels Diamond League, winning the women’s 5000m in an impressive 14:24.99 in a tactical race filled with drama and dropouts.

The race had promised fireworks from the gun, with Uganda’s Winnie Nanyondo taking the early lead as Janeth Chepng’etich and Jebet settled into second and third.

By the 1200m mark, the Kenyan trio of Chepng’etich, Jebet, and Purity Chepkirui led a powerful front pack, backed closely by Ethiopia’s Marta Alemayo and Hirut Meshesha.

By 1600m, Jebet injected pace, seizing the lead and forcing the Ethiopians to chase.

She tightened her grip at 2000m, while Chepng’etich and later Chepkirui fell off and registered DNFs, leaving Jebet to dictate the rhythm at the front.

From 2800m onwards, she was untouchable. Ethiopia’s Baweke Aleshign and Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka briefly threatened late on, but Jebet never relented.

She surged across the line first in 14:24.99, ahead of Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw (14:31.51) and Aleshign (14:31.88).

The USA’s Josette Andrews (14:33.16) and Spain’s Marta García (14:33.40) rounded out the top five.

This latest triumph continues a remarkable 2025 season for the exciting youngster, who began her campaign in February at the Sirikwa Classic Cross Country Tour Gold meet in Eldoret.

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There, she stunned the crowd by leading from gun to tape in 32:42, holding off none other than triple Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon.

Just weeks later, she made global headlines at the Adizero Road to Records race in Germany, where she became the first woman in history to run a women’s-only 10km under 30 minutes.

Her blistering 29:27 erased the late Agnes Tirop’s 2021 mark of 30:01, establishing a new world record.

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Her momentum carried into the Miami Grand Slam Track Series in May, where she struck gold in the 5000m (14:25) and earned silver in the 3000m with a personal best of 8:28.75.

At the Athletics Kenya trials, Jebet secured her ticket to the World Championships in Tokyo after finishing second in the 10,000m.

Meanwhile, fast-rising youngster Phanuel Koech finished second in the 1500m after clocking 3:31:41 as Reynold Cheruiyot settled for fifth-place in 3:31:86.

Abel Kipsang registered a Did Not Finish after tripping midway through the race.

At the same time, Africa's Fastest Man Ferdinand Omanyala finished seventh in 10:49 to continue his search for a sub-10.