TOKYO2025: Indefatigable Beatrice Chebet earns Kenya first gold at World Championships
.jpg)
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 13.09.25. | 16:34
The 24-year-old has been in scintillating form since last year, when she won gold medals in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the Paris Olympics.
Beatrice Chebet produced another unforgettable performance on the global stage, storming to victory in the women’s 10,000m final at the World Championships in Tokyo with a perfectly timed late kick on Saturday, 13 September.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
She crossed the line in 30:37.61, adding yet another gold medal to her glittering career.
The race itself was a rollercoaster as Agnes Jebet Ngetich set the early pace, leading at 400m with Chebet tucked in right behind her.
Italy’s Nadia Battocletti followed in third, while home favourite Japan’s Ririka Hironaka charged forward at 800m to take over the lead.
By 1200m, Jebet stayed close in second, Battocletti was third, and Chebet shuffled between fourth and sixth as the front pack constantly shifted.
At 2800m, Hironaka stretched her lead, Battocletti climbed to second, and Jebet dropped to third. Chebet held steady in fourth, keeping the leaders within reach.
The momentum swung again at 3600m as Jebet surged back to the front with Chebet right on her shoulder. By 4400m, Chebet led for the first time, and Kenya controlled the race with Jebet in second.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay and Fotyen Tesfay soon joined the battle, raising the stakes. At 5600m, the top five featured Chebet, Jebet, Tsegay, Tesfay, and Battocletti.
The drama heightened from 6000m onwards. Each lap saw fresh changes as Jebet, Chebet, Battocletti, and the Ethiopians swapped positions.
At 7200m, Ejgayehu Taye briefly hit the front, only for Jebet to respond strongly.
By 7600m, the leading five, Jebet, Battocletti, Taye, Chebet, and Tsegay were still tightly packed. At 8000m, Chebet went ahead again, setting the stage for a thrilling finish.
The group held together until 8800m when Tsegay surged to the front. With 400m to go, Tsegay still looked strong, Chebet followed closely in second, and Jebet clung to third.
But Chebet had saved her best for last.
In the final 200m, she powered past Tsegay and Battocletti with her trademark sprint, sealing gold in style.
Battocletti claimed silver in 30:38.23, Tsegay took bronze in 30:39.65, and Jebet narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth in 30:42.66. Ejgayehu Taye was fifth in 30:55.52.
Chebet’s triumph continues an extraordinary run of success.
The 24-year-old has been in scintillating form since last year, when she won gold medals in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the Paris Olympics.
She has also broken four world records in quick succession: the 5000m in 13:58.06, the 10,000m in 28:54.14, the 5km women-only race in 14:13, and the 5km mixed race in 13:54.
Although she finished only third at the Kenyan trials behind Janeth Chepngetich and Agnes Jebet, she arrived in Tokyo ranked number one in the world over 10,000m and the third fastest this year with 30:27.52.
Jebet also reminded the world of her class. Ranked 10th globally in the 10,000m, she is the second fastest in the world this year with a time of 30:27.38.
At just 24 years old, she already holds the world record in the 10km road race at 28:46 and has been a consistent force for Kenya in distance running.
This was her second appearance at the World Championships after making her debut in Budapest two years ago, where she finished sixth. At the Kenyan trials, she was the runner-up, which secured her place in Tokyo.
.jpg)
