- Chebet led a Kenyan 1-3 finish with Selah Jepleting finishing third
- She had won silver at the World Championships
- Chebet now hopes for a World Championship gold next year
Beatrice Chebet clinched the women’s 5,000m title at the Commonwealth Games in emphatic fashion, storming through the home stretch to beat home girl Eilish McColgan while compatriot Selah Busienei earned bronze.
The 22-year old emerged from the home stretch at third place and stormed through the final 100m to run a season’s best time of 14:38.21.
The Scot McColgan 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 place for Kenya.
“I am really delighted for the victory. I can say this has been a hugely successful year for me because I started by winning the African Championships, then silver at the World Championships and now gold here. I want to thank everyone who has supported me to attain this target,” an elated Chebet said after the race.
She added; “There was immense pressure on social media as fans encouraged me to go for it and that the Birmingham medal will be all mine. I took that as an encouragement and when I stepped on the track I gave it my all.”
Ran a patient race
Beatrice Chebet and Selah Jepleting celebrating. PHOTO/Team kenya
Chebet had run a patient race and waited for the opportune time to pounce and make a kill. She remained third in the leading pack that had broken away early that had her, Selah and McColgan.
The Scot led for most of the race with the Kenyan duo patiently running behind her waiting for the strength to attack. With two laps to go, Chebet made the first move before leaving it to Selah to push the pace.
At the bell, they were still ahead but Chebet started to push and McColgan responded, refusing to let go of the lead.
But with only 250m to go, the Kenyan 22-year old made her move, pushing up the pace and blazing down the track as the full to capacity Alexander Stadium tried to rally on their home girl behind.
However, she could not catch up with Chebet and had to contend with winning silver. Selah remained third for bronze, a satisfactory medal for her on her very first sojourn with Team Kenya.
Knew McColgan well
Beatrice Chebet, Selah Jepleting and Eilish McColgan; the top three on the podium in the women’s 5,000m. PHOTO/Team Kenya
“I have run with McColgan before and I knew she was a strong athlete. The only way to beat her is to ensure she does not have a gap over you and when we went to the final 100 together, I knew I would win,” Chebet said after the victory.
She has now set sights on next year’s World Championships already and believes she has what it takes to upgrade her silver from Oregon to gold in Budapest next year.
Meanwhile, the Kenyan duo of African champion Winny Chebet and Edinah Jebitok failed to sparkle in the women’s 1500m as they ran out of medal positions.
Jebitok finished ninth while Chebet was 12th. Home girl Laura Muir stormed to gold adding on to the bronze she won in the 800m while Ciara Mageean of Northern Ireland won silver. Abbey Caldwell of Australia closed off the medals with bronze.
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