Tokyo, Japan — Kenya enjoyed a golden weekend at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25 as Beatrice Chebet and Peres Jepchirchir delivered stunning performances to secure titles in the women’s 10,000m and marathon, respectively.
On the opening day, Beatrice Chebet claimed her first world title on the track with a scintillating finish in the women’s 10,000m. Known for her trademark closing speed, the Olympic double champion timed her kick to perfection, surging ahead in the final 200 metres to cross the line in 30:37.61.
Italy’s Nadia Batocletti, runner-up to Chebet at last year’s Olympic Games, once again had to settle for silver, clocking a national record of 30:38.23. Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, the defending champion, finished third in 30:39.65 after attempting to break away in the closing laps.
Chebet, who also holds the world records over 5000m and 10,000m, was elated to finally secure a World Championships gold to add to her glittering collection.
“I am so happy,” she said after the race. “Coming here, I said I don’t have a gold medal from the World Championships, so I have to go for it. And I got it. I just want to thank everyone who supported me.”
The 25-year-old now turns her attention to the 5000m, where she hopes to become the first athlete since Mo Farah in 2015 to win both titles at the same World Championships.
Jepchirchir fends off Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa
A day later, history repeated itself for Peres Jepchirchir, who delivered yet another masterclass in marathon running. Locked in a fierce duel with Ethiopia’s Tigist Assefa for several kilometres, the Olympic champion timed her final surge to perfection, sprinting away in the last 100 metres to claim gold in 2:24:43.
Assefa, who had also lost out in a similar sprint finish at last year’s Olympic Games, once again settled for silver in 2:24:45, while Uruguay’s Julia Paternain stunned the field to take bronze in 2:27:23 — the country’s first-ever medal at a senior global athletics championship.
For Jepchirchir, who famously won Olympic gold in Japan four years ago, the victory reinforced her status as one of the greatest marathoners of her generation.
With Chebet and Jepchirchir delivering gold on back-to-back days, Kenya’s dominance on the track and the roads was on full display, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting championship for the East African nation.
Credit: World Athletics