Kipyegon: Teamwork will be great to win medals in Budapest

Double world 1,500m champion Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon is optimistic that their teamwork will work well at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest later this month.

With the championships set to kick off on August 19 to 27 in Budapest, Kipyegon will be doubling at the world shows as she will be making her debut in the 5,000m at the championships while seeking a third victory in the 1,500m.

“I do hope that we shall run well in the races and bring the medals, especially gold back home.  This will also need teamwork,” she added.

In the 5,000m race, the double Olympic Games 1,500m champion will be marshalling with compatriots led by world cross country champion Beatrice Chebet, Lilian Kasait Rengeruk and Margaret Chelimo.

Chelimo, who won bronze in last year’s world championships in Oregon is the most experienced in the category after winning the Africa Games 5,000m title in 2015, winning silver at the 2016 Africa Championships, 2018 Commonwealth Games, and 2019 World championships before dropping to bronze at the 2022 World championships.

Apart from track, Chelimo also won the 2022 Barcelona half marathon title.

Returning from a ten-month ban for the use of Letrozole, Kasait will be returning in action in full swing after junior races starting with the 2013 world youth title followed by world junior silver in the 3,000m the following year.

She won bronze at the 2017 world cross country and settled for the same medal at the Africa games in 5,000m.

Chebet, who announced her career at the 2017 World Under 18 championships, went ahead to win the 2018 world under 20 title, winning junior gold at the 2019 world cross country championships, won Africa Under 20, won Africa 5,000m followed by a silver at the 2022 world championships losing to Letesenbet Giday of Ethiopia.

She also won the 2022 Commonwealth Games 5,000m and started this year with a world cross-country title.

“With such an experienced team, we have to come home with the title. We are going to do our best to bring back the medals,” added Kipyegon after the country lost the 5,000m to Giday.  

 In her favorite race, the 1,500m, Kipyegon said she will be setting her eyes on defending the title where she will be teaming up with Nelly Chepchirchir, Brenda Chebet and Ednah Jebitok.

“I hope we will do well in Budapest together. I am heading there as the 1,500m defending champion and I hope to defend my title,” she said.

She said that doubling at the world championships was an individual’s choice and ready for the challenge.

“It is not easy to balance between 1,500m and 5,000m but I took this as a challenge by myself so I have to take care of it,” she said.

According to the World Athletics timetable, the 1,500m will set off on the day of the championships on August 19 with the heats and finals set for day 4 on August 22.

The quartet of Kipyegon, Chebet, Kasait and Chelimo will start their 5,000m title chase on day 5 with heats on August 23rd and complete the finals on day 8th on August 26th.