Can Chebet conquer the world in Zurich?

After twelve meetings held between May and September, the Wanda Diamond League (DL) comes to a close on Wednesday and Thursday, 7-8 September with the the Weltklasse Zurich DL in Switzerland. 

The two-day event will see 32 champions crowned with wildcard entries to the World Athletics Championships next year in Budapest up for grabs. 

World 5000m silver medalist Beatrice Chebet is the first Kenyan to step on the track in Zurich on Wednesday, competing for the 5000m crown against a star-studded field. 

The day's competition will see the first six titles secured on Sechselautenplatz, one of the city’s most famous squares on the shore of Lake Zurich. 

A temporary track and arena will host both shot put competitions and 5000m finals as well as the women’s pole vault and men’s high jump.

Fresh from winning the Commonwealth Games title and clocking 14:44.25 to win the Berlin ISTAF meeting, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver competition held on Sunday, Chebet has her work cut out on her quest to seal a slot to Budapest as the 2022 season closes. 

The world silver medalist will be joined on the starting line up by compatriot world 10,000m bronze medalist Margret Chelimo as the duo face an herculean task. 

Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay leads the list of competition for the Kenyan duo, coming into the final with a loaded CV. 

After winning the world indoor 1500m title in Belgrade, she went on to gain outdoor gold over 5000m in Oregon and now the world indoor 1500m record-holder will have a first Diamond Trophy in her sights. 

Tsegay is joined on the start line by three other compatriots, Ejgayehu Taye, Fantu Worku and Hawi Feysa. 

USA’s Alicia Monson ran a big 3000m PB of 8:26.81 when finishing a close second in Lausanne, pipped on the line by Francine Niyonsaba having been a long-time leader, and will be looking to build on that with a strong 5000m performance. 

Four of the top five in Lausanne renew their rivalry in Zurich, Monson joined by Netherlands’ Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion Sifan Hassan, who has raced sparingly this year following a full-on 2021 but won the 3000m in Silesia. Chebet and Chelimo were also in Lausanne, finishing third and fifth respectively. 

The field also features Britain’s Amy-Eloise Markovc and Hungary’s Viktoria Wagner-Gyurkes.

Additional information by World Athletics.