- She won the Commonwealth Games title in brilliant fashion
- The win was just after a world championships silver
- Chebet wants to emulate Hellen Obiri
Beatrice Chebet announced herself to the rest of the world with a scintillating performance at the Commonwealth Games, winning the women’s 5,000m with a mastered tact. The 22-year old drove to victory in a season’s best time of 14:38.21.
And now, Chebet who also won silver at the World Championships has said she wants to be the next big thing in the 5,000m and wants to emulate Hellen Obiri who is now transiting to road running.
“I definitely want to move to the next step in my career and it is not going to be easy. It will demand a lot of work and I am ready for that. I am inspired by (Hellen) Obiri. We have talked several times and she always motivates me. I look at her career and how hard she works and I want that for me too,” Chebet said.
The youngster has had a steady season. She clinched gold at the African Championships, Silver at the World Championships and the gold in Birmingham put a marker to the birth of what is expected to be a streak of dominance.
Clinch Commonwealth Crown in superb fashion
Selah and Chebet celebrate their victory. PHOTO/Team Kenya
In Birmingham, she clinched the title ahead of Scot Eilish McColgan while compatriot Selah Busienei was third. The Scot finished second in a time of 14:42.14 while Jepleting ran a massive personal best of 14:48.24 to bag the bronze and complete a double podium sweep for Kenya.
McColgan had been up for a double having beaten the Kenyans to the 10,000m title, but she couldn’t push in against a strong and resilient Chebet.
The Kenyan duo and the Scot broke off from the rest of the pack early on and with four laps to go, and the medal positions were now well defined.
With two laps to go, the Kenyans made their move. Chebet was first to move up and Selah followed and they ran side by side for that next 400m.
At the bell, Busienei was the first to kick ahead and the Scot responded. All this while, the pint-sized Chebet lay still, just ensuring the gap wasn’t big.
Make move at the home stretch
McColgan, Chebet and Selah on the podium. PHOTO/Team Kenya
At the home stretch she made her move, kicked her little steps up and the Scot’s attempt to respond failed flat. She however managed to maintain second slot for silver as she watched the 22-year old African champion gliding away to gold.
Chebet was elated with the victory and said it was a tough one, but was elated to finally crown her neck with a senior medal.
“It was not very easy. I had run with McColgan in some races and I knew she was a strong athlete. We hatched a plan to win and knew that if we go to the last lap together, I will beat her because of my finishing kick. I am glad that we have two medals in the race as Team Kenya,” she noted.
And now she hopes to continue in the same form heading to the new year, with the World Championships gold her biggest target.
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