World Champs Womenâ€s 5K — Chebet Essays Historic Double-Double

Wrapping a 13-month stretch of epic championship racing, Beatrice Chebet dashed her final 100 in 13.44, 0.38 faster than Faith Kipyegonâ€s Olympic-winning kick. (TAKASHI ITO/AGENCE SHOT)

WHEN WR-HOLDER Beatrice Chebet crossed the line at 14:54.36 — her face overflowing with joy — she had not only completed a 10K/5K sweep, but made history on multiple levels as well to further her growing legacy.

The 25-year-old Kenyan is the third woman to capture the WC 5/10 double, but only Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba in â€05 (World) and â€08 (Olympic) had accomplished an Olympic/Worlds career “double-double†before Chebet, who also won this pairing in Paris. No one, before the Kenyan, had done so in back-to-back seasons. Chebet also completed her medal set of bronze (‘22), silver (‘23) and gold.

There were a lot of reasons to be excited in the leadup. Historyâ€s four fastest were on hand: Chebet, Ethiopiaâ€s ‘22 champ Gudaf Tsegay, defending champ Faith Kipyegon and third Kenyan Agnes Ngetich. It also stood as a battle of the Olympic champion and defending champion. Were that not enough, you had the storyline of a showdown between the newly minted gold medalists for both the 10K (Chebet) and the 1500 (Kipyegon).

Just as strong, however, was the sense of inevitability about the outcome. Because not only does Chebet possess the 13:58.06 WR, but clearly has the best top-end sprint speed. Over the past 18 months, no one — not even Kipyegon — has matched her final 100.

Qualifying was faster than ever before. Chebet led the first heat in 14:45.59, just ahead of 10K silver medalist Nadia Battocletti and Shelby Houlihan, while the second went to Tsegay in 14:56.46 ahead of Kipyegon and Rose Davies. Four women — topped by Birke Haylom, 9th in the first heat at 14:53.49 — ran faster than the previous best non-qualifying mark of 15:02.03 from â€22.

It seemed that if there was one card to play, as the finalists got ready to take off, it might be a long kick, perhaps 800–1200 meters by either Kipyegon or Tsegay. At 3:48.68 and 3:50.30, both had a significant edge in 1500 speed to Chebetâ€s 3:54.73. Meanwhile, Battocletti, with just a 14:23.15 PR but also an excellent sprinter, seemed poised to benefit from the expected slow pace.

So it was no surprise when the first three laps were ticked off in 77.78, 80.66 and 76.00 (3:17.13 at 1K), but it was intriguing to see Houlihan leading. She steadily increased the tempo, with the next kilo markers passing in 6:19.94 and 9:18.66. Teammate Josette Andrews hugged the rail at or near the front, with Battocletti and Ngetich right behind Houlihan, Chebet just behind Battocletti, and Kipyegon and Tsegay further back and somewhat boxed in.

The tension grew almost unbearable as fans waited for someone — anyone — to make a move. Just before 4K (12:15.70), Japanâ€s Nozomi Tanaka drew a roar from the crowd as she surged from 11th to 3rd. Andrews edged ahead briefly during the next lap, then Kipyegon unboxed herself and pushed around the curve with 600 to go to position herself for a kick. Sensing the 1500/mile queenâ€s threat, Battocletti pushed ahead down the homestretch before the bell (13:56.51 after a 65.90).

With 300 to go, Kipyegon pushed into the lead. The expected protagonists were at last at the front for a mad dash to the finish. Houlihan and Andrews fell to 5th and 6th, but did not lose their composure.

Finally — finally — Chebet made her move with just over 100 remaining. Kipyegon and Battocletti sprinted as hard as they could, but Chebet was simply faster, closing in 57.60 with a breathtaking 13.44 final 100. Kipyegon (14:55.07, 58.47/14.22) was denied her second straight 1500/5 double, but was all smiles in hugging Chebet afterward.

Battocletti (14:55.42, 58.91/14.22) added to her 10K silver, becoming the first Italian to medal in the 5K since Roberta Brunet in â€97. Houlihan never gave up and was rewarded when she passed Tsegay in the final meters for 4th (14:57.42). The Americanâ€s placing matched her Doha 1500 finish. With Andrews also in 6th (15:00.25), the U.S. had its best-ever finish in the event.

“Iâ€m so happy, having both World Records. Being the double Olympic champion and being the world champ, I think Iâ€m complete now,†said Chebet. She added that she aspires to win multiple titles of each, like her good friend Kipyegon. “She always keeps me motivated.â€

WOMENâ€S 5000 RESULTS

FINAL (September 20)

1. Beatrice Chebet (Ken) 14:54.36

(13.44, 27.86, 57.60, 2:03.55, 4:24.05);

2. Faith Kipyegon (Ken) 14:55.07

(14.22, 28.67, 59.47, 2:03.98, 4:24.62);

3. Nadia Battocletti (Ita) 14:55.42

(14.22, 28.81, 59.91, 2:04.81, 4:25.32);

4. Shelby Houlihan (US) 14:57.42

(15.13, 30.20, 60.48, 2:06.93, 4:27.63);

5. Gudaf Tsegay (Eth) 14:57.82

(16.34, 31.09, 60.89, 2:06.48, 4:27.03);

6. Josette Andrews (US) 15:00.25

(15.98, 32.17, 63.48, 2:09.72, 4:30.27);

7. Marta García (Spa) 15:01.02;

8. Hannah Nuttall (GB) 15:01.25;

9. Fantaye Belayneh (Eth) 15:02.05;

10. Rose Davies (Aus) 15:03.61;

11. Linden Hall (Aus) 15:04.03;

12. Nozomi Tanaka (Jpn) 15:07.34;

13. Medina Eisa (Eth) 15:07.47;

14. Maureen Koster (Neth) 15:07.58;

15. Agnes Ngetich (Ken) 15:13.78;

16. Joy Cheptoyek (Uga) 15:18.98.

(kilo leaders: Houlihan 3:17.13, 6:19.94, 9:18.66, 12:15.51)

HEATS (September 18)

I–1. Chebet 14:45.59; 2. Battocletti 14:46.36; 3. Houlihan 14:46.52; 4. Koster 14:46.57; 5. Tanaka 14:47.14; 6. Belayneh 14:47.46; 7. Nuttall 14:48.09; 8. Cheptoyek 14:51.17; 9. Birke Haylom (Eth) 14:53.49; 10. Elise Cranny (US) 15:00.23; 11. Elise Vanderelst (Bel) 15:00.52; 12. Gabriela DeBues-Stafford (Can) 15:04.30; 13. Wuga He (Chn) 15:06.01 PR; 14. Margaret Akidor (Ken) 15:10.91; 15. Idaira Prieto (Spa) 15:11.16; 16. Melissa Courtney-Bryant (GB) 15:27.70; 17. Georgia Griffith (Aus) 15:33.15; 18. Yuma Yamamoto (Jpn) 15:36.29; 19. Elena Burkard (Ger) 15:37.33; 20. Farida Abaroge (Eth) 16:27.35.

II–1. Tsegay 14:56.46; 2. Kipyegon 14:56.71; 3. Davies 14:56.83; 4. García 14:56.96; 5. Eisa 14:57.03; 6. Andrews 14:57.59; 7. Hall 14:57.80; 8. Ngetich 14:57.90; 9. Samia Hassan Nour (Dji) 15:00.95; 10. Sarah Lahti (Swe) 15:05.13; 11. Lea Meyer (Ger) 15:05.86; 12. Federica Del Buono (Ita) 15:08.48; 13. Ririka Hironaka (Jpn) 15:10.68; 14. Regan Yee (Can) 15:12.30; 15. Diane van Es (Neth) 15:12.57; 16. Micol Majori (Ita) 15:14.66; 17. Jana Van Lent (Bel) 15:14.93; 18. Innes FitzGerald (GB) 15:15.83; 19. Anisleidis Ochoa (Cub) 15:31.35 NR; 20. Mariana Machado (Por) 15:39.61.

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