All eyes will be on the Hayward Field this Saturday, July 5th, as Kenya’s track and field titans clash at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League, serving as a crucial trials for the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet is set to renew her captivating rivalry with 10km World Record holder and close friend Agnes Jebet Ng’etich in what promises to be a thrilling 5000m race.
Athletics Kenya has strategically chosen the Prefontaine Classic to select its representatives for the World Championships in both the men’s 10,000m and women’s 5000m events. For Chebet, the stakes are exceptionally high.
Having clinched two gold medals at the recent Paris Olympics and finishing second to Faith Kipyegon in the 2023 Budapest World Championships 5000m, she is in scintillating form and determined to secure her ticket to Tokyo.
The 24-year-old will face a formidable field beyond Ng’etich, including former 10,000m All African champion Caroline Nyaga, Margaret Akidor, African Games silver medallist Janeth Chepngetich, Hellen Ekalale, Caroline Kariba, Sarah Wanjiru, and Maurine Chebor.
Beyond World Championship qualification, Chebet will also be aiming to extend her lead in the Diamond League standings, eyeing a fourth win over the distance this season.
This return to Eugene holds special significance for Chebet, who a year ago shattered the 10,000m world record here with a stunning 28:54.14, becoming the first woman to run sub-29 minutes and securing her Paris Olympics spot.
The top three finishers in the women’s 5000m will automatically qualify for the World Championships, joining defending champion Faith Kipyegon.
Even if Chebet misses out on a top-three finish, she has already secured a spot in the Diamond League finals in Zurich (August 27-28), offering another opportunity for World Championship qualification.
Kenyan women have a storied history of excellence in the 5000m at the World Championships. Vivian Cheruiyot claimed gold in 2009 and 2011, followed by Hellen Obiri in 2017 and 2019, and most recently, Faith Kipyegon in 2023, where Chebet earned silver.
In the men’s 10,000m, twelve athletes will vie for a maximum of three spots. The field includes 2022 silver medallist Stanley Waithaka Mburu, experienced Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, former U20 5000m champion Benson Kiplangat, Richard Etir, Ishmael Rokitto, Mathew Kipruto, Mathew Kipsang, Robert Kiprop, Edwin Kurgat, Samwel Chebolei, and Gideon Rono. Kenya’s last gold in the men’s 10,000m at the World Championships came in 2001 through Charles Kamathi, following in the footsteps of Paul Kipkoech (1987) and Moses Tanui (1991).
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