Beatrice Chebet (born 5 March 2000) is a Kenyan long-distance runner. In 2022, she won the silver medal in the 5000 metres at the World Championships, and became Commonwealth, African and Diamond League champion. Chebet claimed the gold medal for the women's senior race at the 2023 and 2024 World Cross Country Championships.[1] She is also the current world record holder in the 10,000 metres, with a time of 28:54.14, set at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic on 25 May. In setting this record, Chebet became the first woman in history to break 29 minutes for the 10,000 metres. She is nicknamed the "smiling assassin".[2][3]
.jpg) Chebet at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 March 2000 Kenya |
| Sport | |
| Country | Kenya |
| Sport | Track and field |
| Event | Long-distance running |
| Achievements and titles | |
| Highest world ranking | 1st (5000 m, 2023) |
Medal record | |
She took the world under-20 title in the 5000 m in 2018 and at the 2019 World Cross Country Championships.
Career
Beatrice Chebet was born on 5 March 2000, the daughter of Francis and Lilian Kirui.[4][5] While at primary school, she raced in 5000 m events,[5] and went on to attend Saramek Secondary School, Londiani, graduating from there in 2013.[5] She joined the Lemotit Athletics Club in November 2016.[5]
In June 2018, at the age of 18, Chebet won the Kenyan Under-20s 5000 metres. A month later at Tampere 2018, she became the first Kenyan woman and the first non-Ethiopian since 2006 to win the 5000 m title at the World U20 Championships in Athletics.[6]
At the 2019 World Cross Country Championships, the top three athletes in the women's U20 race – Chebet and the Ethiopian duo of Alemitu Tariku and Tsigie Gebreselama – were all awarded the time of 20:50 as they finished together. Tariku was initially announced as the winner, with Gebreselama awarded silver. However, after the photo finish footage was reviewed Chebet received the gold medal.[7] Also 2019, she won the Kenyan U20 National Cross Country Championships.[8]
Her best success of 2022 came in July at the World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, where she claimed the silver medal for the closely-run 5000 m race with a time of 14:46.75 behind Gudaf Tsegay in 14:46.29 and ahead of Dawit Seyaum (14:47.36).[9]
Achievements
International competitions
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | World U18 Championships | Nairobi, Kenya | 4th | 3000 m | 9:33.26 |
| 2018 | World U20 Championships | Tampere, Finland | 1st | 5000 m | 15:30.77 PB |
| 2019 | World Cross Country Championships | Aarhus, Denmark | 1st | Junior race | 20:50 |
| 2nd | Junior team | 26 pts | |||
| African U20 Championships | Abidjan, Ivory Coast | 1st | 5000 m | 16:02.66 | |
| 2022 | World Indoor Championships | Belgrade, Serbia | 10th | 3000 m | 8:47.50 |
| African Championships | Saint Pierre, Mauritius | 1st | 5000 m | 15:00.82 | |
| World Championships | Eugene, OR, United States | 2nd | 5000 m | 14:46.75 SB | |
| Commonwealth Games | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 1st | 5000 m | 14:38.21 SB | |
| 2023 | World Cross Country Championships | Bathurst, Australia | 1st | Senior race | 33:48 |
| 1st | Team | 16 pts | |||
| World Championships | Budapest, Hungary | 3rd | 5000 m | 14:54.33 |
Circuit wins and titles, National titles
- Diamond League champion 5000 m:
2022[10]- 2021: Doha Diamond League (3000 m WL PB)
- 2022: Zürich Weltklasse (5 km PB)
- World Athletics Cross Country Tour
- 2022–23 (2): Atapuerca Cross Internacional, San Vittore Olona Cinque Mulini
- Kenyan Athletics Championships
- 5000 metres: 2022
Personal bests
| Type | Event | Time (m:s) | Venue | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Track | 3000 metres | 8:25.01 | Oslo, Norway | 15 June 2023 |
| 3000 metres indoor | 8:37.06 | Madrid, Spain | 24 February 2021 | |
| 5000 metres | 14:05.92 | Eugene, OR, United States | 17 September 2023 | |
| 10,000 metres | 28:54.14 WR | Eugene, OR, United States | 25 May 2024 | |
| Road | 5 km | 14:32 | Zürich, Switzerland | 7 September 2022 |
| 10 km | 32:52 | Eldoret, Kenya | 24 November 2019 |
References
External links
