• The women’s 5,000m mark stands at 14:00.21, set by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay last year in Eugene.
• On Thursday night, Chebet ran 14:09.52 to beat Ethiopians Taye Ejgayehu (14:28.76) and Tsigie Gebreselama (14:39.05) to the title.
Image: HANDOUT
After setting a world 5,000m lead at the Zurich Diamond League, double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet says she will have one last crack at the world record in Brussels before the season ends.
On Thursday night, Chebet ran 14:09.52 to beat Ethiopians Taye Ejgayehu (14:28.76) and Tsigie Gebreselama (14:39.05) to the title.
The other Kenyan, Margaret Akidor, finished 10th in 14:55.67.
Chebet is optimistic it's just a matter of time before she lowers the record.
“After Paris, I went back to normal training with my focus on the Diamond League. I was targeting the 5,000m record. I knew it would not be easy but I had to try and go for it,” Chebet remarked.
“Today, I tried and was not able to get the world record. I am going back now to prepare well and I know everything will work out well."
The women’s 5,000m mark stands at 14:00.21, set by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay last year in Eugene.
Chebet has the third fastest time over the distance (14:05.92), trailing Gudaf and three-time Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon (14:05.20).
Chebet blamed the weather and early withdrawal by the pacemakers.
“I wanted to run the world record, but I missed it. This was due to the weather. The pacemaker was supposed to pace until 3,000m but she dropped off earlier.”
“I used a lot of energy to push and it was not easy. Today, I just want to say thank you to the audience and the fans. I am happy that I was able to run a world lead,” she said.
The 24-year-old said the 10,000m record-breaking run earlier this year has been the highlight of her season.
“Breaking the 10,000m was amazing because it was the start of the season and that gave me confidence and inspiration,” she said.
In May, Chebet clocked 28:54.14 at the Kenyan Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, to lower the 29:01.03 by Ethiopia’s Gidey Letesenbet at the FBK Stadium in Hengelo in June 2021.
She went on to make history as only the third woman, after Tirunesh Dibaba and Sifan Hassan, to win the 5,000m and 10,000m double at the Olympics.
In the 5,000m at the Paris Olympics, Chebet stormed to victory in 14:28.56, edging out Kipyegon (14:29.60) and Hassan (14:30.61).
She clocked 30:43.25 in the 10,000m, beating Italy’s Nadia Battocletti (30:43.35) and Hassan (30:44.12).