Multiple world record holder Beatrice Chebet will hit the track for the first time after her historic performance in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Chebet, who became the first Kenyan woman to win the 10000m Olympic Games gold medal on top of her 5000m victory, is among 14 runners confirmed for Thursday’s Zurich Diamond League.
In Zurich, the athlete widely known as the Smiling Assassin, is expected to attack the current 5000m world record of 14:00.21 that was set by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay in 2023.
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With a personal best of 14:05.92 and the presence of the wave light, Chebet is expected to run a fast race in the event set to be staged at the Letzigrund Stadium.
The 10000m world record holder will battle it out against the likes of compatriot Janeth Chepngetich and Margaret Akidor and Norway’s Karoline Bjerkeli Grövdal.
Five Ethiopian speedsters including Melknat Wudu, Fotyen Tesfay, Ejgayehu Taye and Tsigie Gebreselama have also been confirmed.
Japan’s Nozomi Tanaka, Burundi’s Francine Niyomukunzi and the United States trio of Karissa Schweizer, Elise Granny and Whittni Morgan will also be in contention.
Beatrice Chebet celebrates after winning 10000m gold
Should Chebet smash Tsegay’s world record, she will become the first Kenyan woman to hold both the 10000m and 5000m world records.
In the 110m hurdles, Grant Holloway of the United States and Jamaica’s Rasheed Broadbell are some of the stars that have been announced.
The duo will be joined at the starting line by Italy’s Lorenzo Ndele, Hansle Parchment (Jamaica), Jason Joseph (Switzerland), Rachid Muratake (Japan), Freddie Crittenden (United States), and Daniel Roberts (United States).
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Tujiamini is an initiative that seeks to provide a platform, including up to 30M shillings in funding, for individual, team sports and various talent, in a year-long campaign that will go around the country in a move aimed at evoking the sense of pride in Kenya’s sports and talent ecosystem.
Applicants are urged to submit their applications through www.tujiamini.co.ke