World 5,000m record holder Beatrice Chebet and World Champion Faith Kipyegon are primed to headline Kenya's formidable charge in the women’s 5,000m at the Tokyo World Championships in September.
Kipyegon is the reigning world champion from Budapest 2023, where she delivered a masterclass in the event, clinching gold in 14:53.88. She outpaced Netherlands' Sifan Hassan (14:54.11) and Chebet (14:54.33).
With this triumph, Kipyegon secured a wildcard entry to the Tokyo showdown, ensuring Kenya’s dominance on the global stage while allowing the nation to field multiple athletes in the distance in Tokyo.
Over the weekend at Hayward Field in Eugene, during the Prefontaine Classic, Chebet made history by shattering the women’s 5,000m world record, clocking a swift 13:58.06 to become the first woman in history to break the 14-minute barrier.
She led World 10K road race record holder Agnes Ng'etich (14:01.29) and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay (14:04.41), with Margaret Akidor finishing fourth in 14:30.34. This record-breaking feat ensured that Chebet, Ng'etich and Akidor all secured their Tokyo spots. In Tokyo, Kenya will be hoping for its sixth title at the World Championships.
Vivian Cheruiyot was the first Kenyan woman to claim a 5,000m title at the global stage in Berlin 2009, clocking 14:57.97 before defending her crown in Daegu 2011, clocking 14:55.36.Hellen Obiri picked up the baton six years later also claiming successive titles in London 2017 (14:34.86) and Doha 2019 (14:26.72).
Speaking during a reception hosted by the Sports Cabinet Secretary at Talanta Plaza on Tuesday morning, Chebet expressed confidence in her team’s prospects.
"With my colleagues Faith, Agnes and Akidor, I know we are going there as a team. We are going there to try and come with the three medals. That is our main target," Chebet said. Chebet also took a moment to acknowledge her competitors. "I want to thank all the other athletes who we went to the Pre-Class to run together, without them, we would not have performed how we did."
She also expressed her gratitude to Athletics Kenya (AK) for facilitating the crucial trials in Eugene. "We thank AK for the opportunity you have given us to go to the Prefontaine Classic for our trials," she added.
She further called on support from all stakeholders as the team prepares for Tokyo. "As we prepare for Tokyo we need your sport and encouragement," she added.
AK President Jack Tuwei lauded the Prefontaine Classic for providing a perfect platform for team selection. "The Prefontaine classic has given us a good platform to select our teams for the 10,000m men and 5,000m women. The teams are already selected," Tuwei said.
The remaining teams will be finalized during the World Championship trials on July 22 at Ulinzi Sports Complex. "We will select our other teams at the Ulinzi Complex on July 22. The athletes will pick their running numbers on July 21."
Tuwei further noted that the trials would be invite only and that the federation would give directives in due course. "We will also be issuing the criteria for selection because this will be an invite-only event."
"Thereafter, we will give a program on what will happen after the selection and before the start of the World Championships," he added.
