Beatrice Chebet continued her stellar form at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, winning her heat in the women’s 5,000m on Thursday with a time of 14:45.59.
The 25-year-old edged out Italy’s Nadia Battocletti (14:46.36) and the United States’ Shelby Houlihan (14:46.52) in a tightly contested finish, securing her place in Saturday’s final.
Chebet entered the championships as the woman to beat after smashing the 5,000m world record at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene earlier this season, clocking an astonishing 13:58.06 — becoming the first woman in history to run under 14 minutes in the event.
Her campaign in Tokyo is already historic. She claimed Kenya’s first-ever women’s 10,000m gold medal at the World Championships earlier in the week, crossing the line in 30:37.61.
In that race, she tracked Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay and Battocletti before unleashing a powerful kick on the final bend, securing the title in dramatic fashion.
Now, Chebet is on the verge of a rare distance-running treble: Olympic champion, world record holder, and double world champion in both the 10,000m and 5,000m.
Kenya’s presence in the 5,000m final will be strong, with Faith Kipyegon, the four-time world champion, and Agnes Jebet Ng’etich also advancing. Margaret Ekidor rounds out a formidable Kenyan lineup that signals serious medal potential.
With her heat victory and world-record pedigree, Chebet enters Saturday’s final as a leading gold medal contender.
For now, she’ll turn her focus to recovery and race strategy — but her dominance in the opening round has already sent a clear message: Chebet is ready to make history once again.
