Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet stormed to her first world title in the 10,000 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, closing in 30:37.61 after a dramatic final-lap sprint.
The victory belonged to Chebet, a 25-year-old long-distance specialist who has now stepped into the limelight as the latest star in Kenya’s golden running tradition. The race took place inside Tokyo’s National Stadium, where the humid conditions made patience and strategy just as important as raw speed.
Italy’s Nadia Battocletti claimed silver, running a national record of 30:38.23, while Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay took bronze in a strong performance. The field had been tightly bunched for most of the race, but it was Chebet’s closing speed that made the difference — reminiscent of legendary finishers like Tirunesh Dibaba and Vivian Cheruiyot.
Her triumph is significant for Kenya, reinforcing its dominance in long-distance track events. For Chebet personally, it is a career-defining breakthrough that places her among the elite names of global athletics. For Ethiopia, the bronze shows continued competitiveness, though the absence of Diribe Welteji due to suspension also left questions about what might have been.
Chebet’s next goal may be even bigger — she is tipped to chase a 5,000m/10,000m double, following in the footsteps of past greats who have completed the endurance sweep. For fans across Africa, this gold is a reminder that the continent’s running power remains as strong as ever, with more opportunities ahead as middle and long-distance finals continue to unfold in Tokyo.
