Chebet, Wanyonyi strike gold for Kenya in Tokyo

World 10,000m and 5,000m record holder Beatrice Chebet underlined her supremacy over the long distance once again on Saturday, completing a ...

World 10,000m and 5,000m record holder Beatrice Chebet underlined her supremacy over the long distance once again on Saturday, completing a stunning distance double at the Tokyo World Championships with victory in the women’s 5,000m.

Chebet executed a perfectly judged tactical race, stopping the clock at 14:54.36 to clinch her second title of the Championships.

Earlier in the week, the 24-year-old had stormed to the 10,000m crown on day one, crossing the line in 30:37.61 to open her golden campaign.

In the 5,000m final, Chebet held off a late charge from defending champion Faith Kipyegon, who clocked 14:55.07, while Italy’s Nadia Battocletti won bronze in 14:55.42.

Kenya’s Agnes Ng’etich faded to 15th in 15:13.78.

Chebet’s dominance in Tokyo mirrored her historic heroics at the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she became the third woman in history to secure the Olympic 5,000m/10,000m double, stopping the clock at 14:28.56 in the 5,000m and 30:43.25 in the 10,000m.

Meanwhile, Kipyegon had earlier opened her medal streak in Tokyo by powering to gold in her signature 1,500m with a brilliant 3:52.15 on Tuesday.

Olympic 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi stamped his authority on the two-lap race, producing a commanding gun-to-tape victory to clinch gold in a championship record of 1:41.86.

Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati settled for silver in 1:41.90, while former world champion Marco Arop of Canada had to settle for bronze, also clocking 1:41.90 in a photo finish.

For Wanyonyi, the triumph was sweet revenge, having taken silver behind Arop at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest, where he clocked 1:44.24.

With Wanyonyi’s and Chebet’s gold medals, Kenya’s medal tally at the global bonanza jumped to 10 (six gold, two silver and two bronze), placing them just behind the USA, who lead with 20 medals.

Kenya’s relay teams, however, fell short of the finals.

The men’s 4x400m squad of George Mutinda, Kelvin Kipkorir, David Sanayek, and Dennis Masika finished fourth in their heat despite posting a new national record of 3:00.76, missing out on the automatic top-three qualifying spots.

South Africa (2:58.81), Qatar (3:00.15), and the Netherlands (3:00.23) advanced.

The 4x100m quartet of Boniface Mweresa, Steve Odhiambo, Meshack Babu, and Mark Otieno also bowed out, finishing sixth (38.56) in heat one.

Canada (37.85), USA (37.98), and Germany (38.12) progressed.

Barnaba Korir, NOCK first vice president and Athletics Kenya chair of youth development, assured that Kenya’s sprinters will be given ample preparation ahead of the 2026 World Relay Championships in Botswana.

"We are planning for our sprinters to train in Miramas ahead of the World Relays Championships. The programme will be funded by NOCK," he said.

He added that the long-term plan is to assemble a formidable team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"We want to build a team for the 2028 LA Games and we are committed to building on our relay teams’ achievements here in Tokyo."

Korir further revealed that NOCK is in advanced discussions with the Japanese Athletics Federation over possible partnerships, which could see Kenyan sprinters benefit from enhanced training opportunities.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).