Beatrice Chebet starts the year with a bang

Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet has wasted no time stamping her authority on the 2025 athletics season. Fresh off breaking the world 5km record in Barcelona on New Year’s Eve, Chebet stormed to victory at the Cross Internacional Juan Muguerza in Elgoibar, Spain a World Athletics Cross Country Tour Gold meeting on Sunday.

 Her dominant performance in the 7.62km race was yet another statement of intent from the 24-year-old, who is emerging as the athlete to beat this year.

 The World 10,000m record holder took charge of the 7.62km race, finishing in 25:49 minutes, ahead of Ethiopia’s Melknat Wudu (26:31) and Burundi’s Francine Niyomukunzi (26:33).

“Honestly, I expected to win,” Chebet said. “Last year, I won here and then became world champion in Belgrade. I now return to Kenya to keep training, as I haven’t scheduled more races until March 9, when I’ll compete at the Lisbon 10K,” Chebet said after her victory. Remaining grounded, she added, “That record is impressive. I’m not sure I can do that. I’ll just try to win the race.”

Athletics enthusiasts are now eager to see if Chebet who is also a Commonwealth champion will target Agnes Ngetich’s 10km world record. Ngetich ran a phenomenal 28:46 at the 2024 Valencia Ibercaja World Athletics Label road race.

 Chebet’s 5km world record, achieved at the Cursa dels Nassos road race, was a fitting way to cap off her stellar 2024 season. Her triumphs included defeating Faith Kipyegon in the 5000m at the Paris Olympics and completing a rare double in the 5000m and 10,000m at the Olympics.

As the athletics world looks ahead to the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo, Chebet is undoubtedly the centerpiece of the long-distance narrative. Her tactical brilliance and unmatched consistency make her the athlete others measure themselves against. Chebet’s dominance has turned her into a "yardstick of strength," with elite competitors using her as a benchmark for their own performances.

The two-time World Cross Country champion is also expected to headline the Diamond League circuit .

In 2023, she clocked the third-fastest 5, 000m in history (14:05.92) at the Diamond League final, in September, and set a 5km Road world record of 14:13 on 31 December in Barcelona.