Beatrice Chebet delivered a scintillating performance in the 5000 meters at the Zurich Diamond League, continuing her remarkable season just weeks after her historic double Olympic gold triumph in Paris.
Chebet claimed victory in a time of 14:09.52, setting a new meet record, though falling short of the world record of 14:00.21 held by Gudaf Tsegay.
For the first eight minutes, Chebet appeared poised to challenge Gudaf Tsegay’s world record pace, but shortly after, the lights marking the required pace began to drift away, signaling that the record would elude her this time.
Despite the setback, she powered through to secure an impressive win, finishing with a considerable gap over Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, who had to settle for second.
In a dominant display, Chebet even lapped Gela Hamsebe during the final lap, spurring her to increase her pace. While the world record still stands, Chebet’s performance in Zurich will undoubtedly be a source of satisfaction as she continues her quest for greatness.
Reflecting on the race, Chebet expressed both joy and disappointment: “I ran a world-leading time, but the weather wasn’t favorable for a world record. I wanted to thank God and the fans.
“I really aimed for the world record, but I missed it due to the conditions. The pacemaker was supposed to guide us until 3000m, but she dropped earlier, so I had to push a lot more. It wasn’t easy.”
Despite the challenges, Chebet remained optimistic, saying, “I’m over the moon with the world-leading time. I wasn’t even tired in the second half of the race, although I got spiked at the start, and now my leg is bleeding. I’ll race in Brussels, but I’ll need to talk to my coach about another attempt at the world record. I don’t think I have it in me for 2024, but next year, we’ll try again.”
Chebet’s Zurich triumph serves as a reminder of her determination and growing legacy as she looks ahead to future world record pursuits.
