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Tag: 50th Prefontaine Classic

  • Dazzling Chebet and Ngetich face off in Eugene, as the scramble for Tokyo tickets begins tonight

    Dazzling Chebet and Ngetich face off in Eugene, as the scramble for Tokyo tickets begins tonight

    The first group of six Kenyan flag bearers for the 20th World Athletics Championships  in Tokyo,Japan,later thi year will be known tonight during the trials for 10,000m men and 5,000m women at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League in Eugene, USA.

    Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet will go head to head against 10 km world record holder Agnes Jebet Ngétich in the 5000m trials.

    After finishing second in Budapest in 2023 behind Faith Kipyegon in the 5,000m race, Chebet, who has been in scintillating form since the Paris Olympics, will be keen to punch her ticket to Tokyo.

    The 24-year-old will compete against a strong field that includes; Jebet Ng’etich, former 10,000m All African Games  champion Caroline Nyaga, Margaret Akidor, African Games silver medallist Janeth Chepngetich, Hellen Ekalale, Caroline Kariba, Sarah Wanjiru and Maurine Chebor.

    In addition to trying to secure a ticket to Tokyo, Chebet will aim to extend her lead in the Diamond League standings as she goes for a fourth win over the distance this season.

    The top three finishers will punch their tickets for the World Championships alongside the defending champion Faith Kipyegon.

    Kenyan women have excelled in the 5000m at the World Championships over the years.

    Vivian Cheruiyot won gold in 2009 and 2011 before passing the baton to Hellen Obiri, who replicated the result, winning in 2017 and 2019, followed by Faith Kipyegon, who emerged the World Champion in 2023 in Budapest, Hungary.

    Twelve athletes will fight for a maximum of three available slots at the global championships in the men’s 10,000m.

    Silver medallist in the 2022 Stanley Waithaka Mburu will compete against experienced Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, former 5000m under-20 champion Benson Kiplangat, Richard Etir, Ishmael Rokitto, Mathew Kipruto, Mathew Kipsang, Robert Kiprop, Edwin Kurgat, Samwel Chebolei, and Gideon Rono.

    Kenya last won a World Championship gold in the men’s 10,000 metres in 2001 through Charles Kamathi, who followed the footsteps of Paul Kipkoech and Moses Tanui, who had bagged gold in the 1987 and 1991 editions.

  • Kipyegon to open her Diamond title defence in USA today

    Kipyegon to open her Diamond title defence in USA today

    Triple Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon,will get her diamond trophy defence underway today at the Prefontaine Classic meet in Eugene, USA.

    The triple world champion who is the best ranked in 1500 m will face off Olympian Susan Ejore, also from Kenya, who is 3rd on the standings with 12 points, 2nd best ranked Jessica Hall of Australia and DiribeWelteji of Ethiopia ranked 3rd.

    The race, which will be the last event of the night, will start at 00:50 am on Sunday.

    Having already booked her slot in the finals of the Diamond League in Zurich, Olympic bronze medalist Faith Cherotich, will be keen to consolidate her 3000m steeplechase  lead, when she takes on her Kenyan-born

    Winfred Yavi of Bahrain and her compatriot Pamela Kosgei.

    The race is scheduled to start at 00.07am on Sunday.

    Reigning 800m champion Mary Moraa will be in search of her 1st diamond race win this season as she battles Olympic silver medalist Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia who leads the standings on 16 points, former world champion Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda, British Reekie Jemma and the American duo; former Olympic champion Athing Mu Nikolayev and Raevyn Rogers and inform South Africa’s Prudence Sedgodiso.

    Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet will renew her rivalry in the 5000m against World champion Gudaf Tsegay as the Kenyan seeks to extend her lead and book her Tokyo ticket.

    The men’s Bowerman Mile race will  be a battle between former World 1500m  Champion Timothy Cheruiyot against her compatriots; former World under 20  champion Reynold Cheruiyot, African Games bronze medalist Abel Kipsang and Festus Lagat  taking on World Champion Jake Whitman of Britain, among other competitors.

    A mouth watering clash is also expected in the 100m women’s dash as reigning Olympic champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia meets reigning World champion and home favourite  Sha’Carri Richardson, 2nd best ranked  Dina Asher Smith of the UK and Jamaican young sensation Tina Clayton.