Chebet facing Tsegay on uncharted territory in Silesia DL

Beatrice Chebet has conquered both the 10000m and 5000m world records, but in Silesia on Saturday, 16 August, she faces a tough test on her international 1500m debut.

Could she break the 1500-meter world record in Silesia?

Chebet is among 13 world record-holders who will want to make a statement when they stop in Silesia on the road to Tokyo, where they will defend their titles at the World Championships in September.

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The double Olympic champion, Chebet, renews rivalry with Gudaf Tsegay and Diribe Welteji, two athletes who have, in previous races, pushed her to spectacular performances. The race is not being billed as a world record attempt, but Tsegay, who loves to take races out hard, could change that.

In Tsegay’s most recent race, a mile in London, she went out ahead of the pacers, hitting 400 in 60.0 and 800 in 2:03.5, before fading over the second half. That’s not quite WR pace (WR pace in the 1500 is 2:01.96 at 800), but she could give Chebet someone to chase early.

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Chebet carries a 4:06.09 personal best (PB) from 2023 to the race, but her current form gives her the impetus to lower that time by a massive jump, with predictions pointing to her coming close to her rivals’ PBs.

The trio will be joined by Olympic bronze medalist Georgia Hunter Bell, Birke Haylom, and Nikki Hiltz.

Meanwhile, Lilian Odira is taking on Keely Hodgkinson, who is set to race for the first time since winning the Olympic 800m title in Paris as she continues her comeback after injury.

Also in action is four-time world gold medalist Faith Kipyegon, who is chasing a PB in the 3000m.

She has only raced the 3000m thrice before, and her PB of 8:23.55 was set 11 years ago in 2014. She clocked 8:38.91 at the Prefontaine Classic the following year and 8:38.05 in her last race in the distance back in 2022 in Doha.

Elsewhere, the men’s 1500m features six men who have dipped under 3:30 this season, including former world champion Timothy Cheruiyot, world indoor champion Josh Hoey, and Cameron Myers.

They take on Olympic bronze medalist Yared Nuguse, Hobbs Kessler, World Under-20 champion Reynold Cheruiyot, Abel Kipsang, and Festus Lagat.

In Javelin, former world champion and Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego continues his chase for his elusive PB, a distance he vows not to retire before hitting once more.