Beatrice Chebet had a difficult task ahead of her at the 2025 World Athletics Championships. She was already a gold medalist entering the event, but that came as a blessing and a curse -- with the 10K coming first, she entered the women's 5K on tired legs, facing her most difficult opponent yet in 1500m world-record holder Faith Kipyegon.
Could Beatrice Chebet complete the double-double of 5000m and 10,000m gold at the 2024 Olympics and 2025 World Championships? Or could her Kenyan teammate and reigning world champion Faith Kipyegon beat her to the line? After it all and despite a race that seemed to play into Kipyegon's hands, Chebet proved she is the undisputed women's distance queen with a gold medal to complete the set.
Parallel to the international contenders, American Shelby Houlihan attempted to revive American hopes after disappointing showings in distance races so far.
Houlihan and her teammate Josette Andrews were content to share the lead in the early laps, as the field widened out to six abreast at points due to the moderate pace. Italy's Olympic medalists Nadia Battocletti was right on the rail in tow as Kipyegon, Chebet, and expected factors Agnes Ngetich (KEN) and Gudaf Tsegay (ETH) stayed towards the back.
At halfway, Houlihan led at 7:51.29 as fans awaited the move that would likely break apart the field. All 16 competitors were still in the pack. A 71.2-lap, led by Houlihan, was a good start -- the field started to string out as Ngetich took 2nd position ahead of Battocletti. The pack hit 3000m in 9:18.66 with five laps to go.
With three laps remaining and 70-second laps ticking, someone had got to go to avoid a massive upset. A late kick would play into Kipyegon's hands -- Andrews was still right behind leader Houlihan, with both using their elbows to maintain leading position.
Two laps remained, and nobody had made the winning move yet! With 500m to go, Kipyegon wound up her kick and finally appeared on the outside. Battocletti and Kipyegon led at the bell -- Houlihan began to fall back for the first time as Andrews and Chebet tried to follow.
Chebet pulled into 2nd as Andrews was in 6th now. Tsegay was 4th, but it was all Chebet in the final 100m -- she won in 14:54.36 to complete the double ahead of Kipyegon (14:55.07) and Battocletti (14:55.42). Incredibly, the last lap was split in 57.6 seconds.
25-year-old Beatrice Chebet, has rewritten history repeatedly over the past two years — breaking four world records, including becoming the first woman to run under 29 minutes in the 10,000m (28:54.14) and the first under 14 minutes in the 5,000m (13:58.06).
Kenya now stands second in the medal table with six golds, two silver, and two bronze medals — all earned in middle- and long-distance events.
Kenya’s gold medalists so far include:
Beatrice Chebet – Women’s 10,000m and 5,000m
Faith Kipyegon – Women’s 1500m
Peres Jepchirchir – Women’s Marathon
Faith Cherotich – Women’s 3,000m Steeplechase (Championship Record: 8:51.69)
Emmanuel Wanyonyi– Men’s 800m
Silver and bronze medalists:
Faith Kipyegon – Silver, Women’s 5000m
Dorcus Ewoi – Silver, Women’s 1500m
Edmund Serem – Bronze, Men’s 3,000m Steeplechase.
Reynold Cheruiyot – Bronze, Men’s 1500m
