Beatrice Chebet strikes with a world record at Prefontaine Classic to qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics

Beatrice Chebet strikes with a world record at Prefontaine Classic to qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics

Abigael Wafula 22:00 - 25.05.2024

Beatrice Chebet has automatically sealed her ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the women's 10,000m following her thrilling run at the Prefontaine Classic which bore fruits with a world record.

The women’s 10,000m at the Prefontaine Classic, the Diamond League Meeting in Eugene was a wonder as it witnessed one of the strongest fields assembled with tons of Kenyans vying for a ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The race started with every athlete looking charged up and passing the 400m mark, world 5000m record holder Gudaf Tsegay and Beatrice Chebet were in the lead, closely following the pacemakers. Lilian Kasait was also in the mix, running among the top three athletes.

Passing the 1200m mark, Chebet and Tsegay were still running in the lead, with the Ethiopian’s main focus being to attack the world record set by her compatriot, Letesenbet Gidey. Tsegay had set the 5000m world record at last year’s Prefontaine Classic, obliterating Faith Kipyegon’s world record that she had set at the Diamond League Meeting in Paris.

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Passing the 3000m mark, the two women were running in the lead with Margaret Chelimo, Catherine Reline, and Emmaculate Anyango running from the front too. Kasait still had her place, running in third.

As the athletes passed the 5000m mark, Chebet had taken the lead, with Tsegay having faded to third place and Sarah Chelangat was now running in second place. Chebet looked very comfortable to have taken the role of attacking the world record.

Passing the 7000m mark, Faith Chepkoech had now taken the lead with Tsegay now running in second and Chebet dropped to third. Kasait had been pushed to fourth place but she was certainly looking comfortable.

As the women passed the 9000m mark, Chepkoech was still running in the front with Tsegay running in second place and Chebet in third. Kasait was running in fourth, looking very poised. However, it was Chebet who had better legs and took the top prize, winning in a world record time of 28:54.14.

Tsegay finished second in an impressive personal best time of 29:05.92 as Lilian Kasait completed the podium, also clocking a personal best time of 29:26.89. Chelimo finished fourth, to also automatically secure a spot in the Olympic Games, after clocking an impressive personal best time of 29:27.59.

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