- The weekend was a good day for this pack of Kenyan athletes as they fought to fly the country’s flag high up
- Faith Kipyegon successfully defended her 1500m and 5000m victory in the most heartrending run of the decade
- Kipyegon rewrote history by becoming the first Kenyan runner to win a gold medal in each category at a single championship
Female Kenyan athletes at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest, Hungary shone clear and bright in different categories.
The weekend was a good day for this pack of Kenyan athletes as they fought to fly the country’s flag high up on the medal podium. SportsLeo gives you a detailed overview of the five women athletes who made Kenyans proud.
FAITH KIPYEGON
Faith Kipyegon wins a gold medal in Budapest. Photo/Supersport
The 29-year-old is a darling to Kenyans and the entire world. She successfully defended her 1500m and 5000m victory in the most heartrending run of the decade. Now a triple world record holder, Kipyegon rewrote history by becoming the first Kenyan runner to win a gold medal in each category at a single championship.
Kipyegon won the 5,000-meter race in 14:53.88, adding to her recently won 1500-meter world title. Sifan Hassan Hassan of the Netherlands gave her a run for the 5000m title coming in second in 14:54.11. Fellow Kenyan Beatrice Chebet took third for bronze in 14:54.33.
Kipyegon admits that she was in doubt about winning her last race at the 2023 World Athletic Championship in Budapest. However, she kept her brilliance on the track and successfully defended her 5000m victory.
MARY MORAA
Kenyan Mary Moraa outperformed race favourites Keely Hodgkinson and Athing Mu in the last straight to win the global 800-meter gold on Sunday. MU, a reigning Olympic champion set the pace right out of the gate but failed to lead given her rocky season this year.
Moraa spiritedly mounted a brave fight on the tracks recording 1:56.03 to reach the finishing line in the final 100 metres of the race. She celebrated excitedly in disbelief at her success against formidable rivals. It was a big deal after winning a bronze medal in last year’s championship.
“After bronze last year I wanted to improve and I have. Everyone in the final was so fast I knew I would have to have a fast finish. I came from a long way behind but I managed to do it,” she remarked.
BEATRICE CHEBET
Beatrice Chebet put up a brave battle to come in third – and win a bronze medal – in the Women’s 5,000-metre race. This wasn’t just another race for her because she was up against some of the best women athletes in history, among them fellow Kenyan Faith Kipyegon. While the latter took the 5000 metres lead in 14:53.88, Chebet managed a third place in 14:54.33.
Sifan Hassan managed 14:54.11 to take second place and Chebet fell 22 seconds behind her and over a minute to beat Kipyegon. Nevertheless, she made it to the medal podium together with Kipyegon and Hassan.
FAITH CHEROTICH
Faith Cherotich. Photo/Sports News
At 19 years, Faith Cherotich made history at the World Athletics Championships 3000 m steeplechase in Budapest. In a personal best time of 9:00.69, Faith Cherotich, a 19-year-old Kenyan athlete won a bronze medal, becoming the first Kenyan teenager to stand on the world medal podium in the history of the World Athletics Championship.
She felt representing the country on an international stage is a huge responsibility and the only way out for her was leaping forward and giving it her best. Today, she is the youngest Kenyan to win a bronze medal in the World Athletics Championships stage.
BEATRICE CHEPKOECH
Beatrice Chepkoech made a fiery comeback after an injury spell earlier. She closely trailed behind Kenyan-born Bahraini athlete Winfred Yavi who scooped the 3,000m steeplechase gold medal. Chepkoech clocked 8:58.98 to win a silver medal.
Still, this was far off her 2018 record of 8:44.32 which she hasn’t defended successfully since then. Chepkoech dropped out of the world championship in 2022 over a hamstring and ankle stress fracture injury but she worked on herself and bounced back. Winning a silver medal in this year’s World Athletics Championship in Budapest felt more like a gold medal given her stressful moments for the past years trying to recover from injury.
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