Two time Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet delivered a commanding performance to win the women’s 5000m at the 2025 Xiamen Diamond League, clocking a world-leading and meeting record time of 14:27.12.
Chebet’s victory came after a tactical race that saw her surge ahead in the final 200 meters, decisively outpacing Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, who finished second in 14:28.18.
The Kenyan star’s finishing speed, particularly her sub-60-second final lap, proved unmatchable in a field dominated by Ethiopian contenders.
Reflecting on her win, Chebet acknowledged the early stage of the season and the challenge posed by a strong field: “The season is still fresh, and I wasn’t certain about my fitness, so I thought I’d give it a go since there were many Ethiopians competing,” she said.
Chebet noted her satisfaction with her speed and finishing kick, emphasizing her focus on further training and upcoming championships.
In the women’s 1000m, Faith Kipyegon, the three-time Olympic 1500m champion, narrowly missed breaking the world record. Kipyegon won comfortably with a time of 2:29.21, the third-fastest in history and just shy of her personal best of 2:29.15.
“The race was good, it went how I wanted, to start my season in a good way. I wanted to run my personal best, it was very close to a world record but I thank God I ran well and started my season,” Kipyegon commented after her race.
In the men’s 100m, South Africa’s Akani Simbine dominated a highly competitive field to win in 9.99 seconds, with Kenya’s Ferdinand Omanyala finishing second in 10.13. Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo struggled, placing seventh with 10.20.
Simbine’s early season form continues to impress, while Omanyala ensured an African 1-2 finish in the sprint event.
The Xiamen Diamond League opener showcased Kenya’s continued strength in distance running and highlighted fierce sprint competition as athletes build toward the world championships later this year.
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