Exclusive: Beatrice Chebet Makes History in Eugene — But Wants More in Tokyo

By now, double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet has cemented her place as one of the most dominant long-distance runners of her generation. 

Her accolades include gold medals from the Diamond League, Olympic Games, cross-country events, and local races. 

However, one title continues to elude her: a World Championships gold medal. 

And that is precisely what she will be targeting when she lines up for the World Athletics Championships slated for Saturday, 13 to Sunday, 21 September in Tokyo, Japan.

Already Tokyo-bound for the 5,000m

Chebet has already qualified for the 5,000m after her record-shattering run at the Prefontaine Classic on 5 July, where she made history by clocking 13:58.06, becoming the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier in the event.

Just like in 2024, Athletics Kenya was using the Eugene event to select athletes who would represent the country at the World Championships. The qualifying time for women in the 5,000m was 14:50:00.

National trials next stop

The 25-year-old is also eyeing the 10,000m at the global showpiece. 

She is expected to compete at the Athletics Kenya National Trials on Tuesday, 22 July at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, where she hopes to secure her spot. She has declared her intention to double at the World Championships, just as she successfully did during the Paris Olympics.

An impressive 2025 campaign

Chebet has remained unbeaten in all her international appearances this season. Her journey began in January with a win at the LXXXI Elgoibar Cross Country in Spain, clocking 25:49 to retain her title. 

She followed this with commanding Diamond League victories in Xiamen, Rabat, Rome, and most recently, the Prefontaine Classic

The cross-country magic

Her 2024 season laid the foundation for her continued dominance. After a string of cross-country races, she defended her World Cross Country title in Belgrade. 

In Eugene, she smashed the 10,000m world record, earning her ticket to the Paris Olympics. 

There, she made history as the first Kenyan woman to win double gold, triumphing in both the 5,000m (14:28.56) and 10,000m (30:43.25).

This season seems to be following the same script. Chebet opened her 2025 Diamond League campaign in Xiamen on 26 April, winning the 5,000m in 14:27.12. 

In Rabat, she shifted gears to the 3,000m, clocking 8:11.56, a new African and Diamond League record that moved her to number two on the all-time list. 

She returned to the 5,000m in Rome on 6 June, where she posted a meeting record of 14:03.69.

Making history in Eugene

At the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Chebet ran a race for the ages. With pacemakers setting an aggressive early tempo, she followed through the first kilometer in 2:47.07 and the second in 5:35.37. 

When the pacers stepped off, Chebet surged into the lead, maintaining an unforgiving pace that only Gudaf Tsegay and Agnes Jebet Ngetich could briefly match. 

She split 3000m in 8:22.96, a new stadium record, and closed her final lap in a blazing 61.9 seconds to seal her world record.

A dream realised

Speaking to SportsBoom, Chebet explained that the sub-14 was a long time coming, especially after her Rome Diamond League performance.

“Achieving sub-14 and being the first woman to run the 5,000m under 14 minutes is a great deal for me. I’m glad to have written history. I ran 14:03 in Rome and knew I was capable. At the Prefontaine Classic, I had prepared well mentally and physically. The World Championships were the goal, but I also wanted the world record,” she told SportsBoom.com.

Chebet further acknowledged that securing a World Championships medal will not be easy, with elite competition expected from the likes of Agnes Jebet Ngetich, Faith Kipyegon, and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay. 

“Everyone is aiming for a gold medal. It will not be easy, but with teamwork, we will achieve the medals,” she revealed.

Creating history with Kipyegon

As Chebet crossed the line in Eugene, she was greeted by Faith Kipyegon, arms open wide in celebration. 

Moments later, Kipyegon etched her name in the record books by running a 3:48.68 in the 1,500m, becoming the first woman ever to break the 3:49 barrier.

“I was very happy for Faith. She is a close friend. Before my race, she told me to go for it, and I told her the same. We train together sometimes. I’m so happy for her. After attempting sub-four, she finally made it,” she told SportsBoom.com.

What's her secret?

“I train a lot, and that gives me the confidence to believe in myself. When the pacemaker dropped, I kept going because I knew I was in great shape. The pressure for the world record is real, but now, my full focus is on the World Championships,” Chebet concluded.