Fresh from a masterclass act at the Stockholm Diamond League on Sunday, Commonwealth Games 5,000m champion Beatrice Chebet has vowed to light up the London Athletics meeting on July 23.
Chebet will be a key feature at the annual showpiece that returns to the London Stadium as part of the Wanda Diamond League series. There, she will look to lower her personal best in the 12-and-a-half lap race.
“I'm working towards posting a PB in the 5000m race. Hopefully, I'll do my best to achieve the target if the conditions favour me in London," Chebet said.
The 23-year-old National Police Service officer said all this is part of her preparations as she targets the 5,000m title at the World Championships slated for August in Budapest, Hungary.
Chebet wants to improve on the silver medal she won at the 2022 World Championships in Oregon, USA.
"I believe I'm in great shape to perform well at the World Championships. I'll do my best to secure a podium finish. That's my main goal,” Chebet said.
But before that, Chebet said she will seek to fend off a tough challenge from a rich field at this weekend's Athletics Kenya national trials at the Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
"I'll be participating in the national trials. I intend to use the stage to prepare for both the London race and World Championships," Chebet said.
She expects vicious opposition from the world 10,000m bronze medalist Margaret Chelimo, world cross country mixed relay champion Brenda Chebet, national 5,000m champion Lilian Kasait, Africa 5,000m champion Caroline Nyaga and world cross country bronze medalist Agnes Jebet.
It will be her second appearance on the national stage after she ran an impressive 4:06.09 to tuck away the women’s 1,500m title at the National Championships a week ago.
Her vintage performance in Stockholm followed another masterstroke in Oslo, Norway, where she romped to victory in 8:25.01 to set a new meet record in the 3,000m.
On Sunday, Chebet breasted the tape in a season’s best time of 14:36.52, fending off a stiff challenge from the Ethiopian pair of Hailu Lemlem (14:38.06) and Eisa Medina (14:40.02).
She set her season in motion in February with a splendid show in Bathurst, Australia to lay claim to the World Cross Country gold medal in a blistering 10km duel.
She blazed to the title in 33:48 after overpowering pre-race favourite Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia.