On fire Chebet out to break 5,000m world record in Zurich

As the clock ticks towards to the eagerly awaited 5,000m women's race at the Wanda Diamond League in Zurich on Thursday, all eyes are firmly fixed on Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet.

The 10,000m world record holder stands as the top contender, poised to challenge the world record. 

Chebet, who made history as the first Kenyan woman to secure gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the Olympics, will aim take on the current 5,000m world record, held by Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay at 14:00.21.

Tsegay set the record last year at the Diamond League final in Eugene, USA.

The Zurich meet organisers have plotted an aggressive pace, positioning Chebet to make a serious run at this mark. 

Coach Peter Bii of Asics in Iten has confirmed the planned splits for the race:

1000m: 2:48.00  

2000m: 5:37.00  

3000m: 8:25.00  

The targets, meticulously planned, correspond to a pace roughly faster than the current world record. Should Chebet maintain this speed, she could etch her name in the record books in Zurich.

Also in the race is Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, ranked third globally, and Melknat Wudu, who holds a season-best time of 14:26.98. 

The race, scheduled for 20:43pm EAT, will see Chebet chase the record supported by pacemakers Georgia Griffith and Katie Snowden.

The two are tasked with setting the tempo for what could be a world-record performance.