Chebet to cut back on races ahead of Tokyo World Championships

Chebet, fresh from a stunning 14:05.10 win in the women’s 5,000m at the Rome Diamond League —the second-fastest time in history, has confirmed that the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on July 5 will likely be her final Diamond League race this season.

The World Athletics Championships will take place from September 13 to 21 in Tokyo. Chebet will be chasing a historic double in the 5,000m and 10,000m.

“I think Prefontaine will be my last Diamond League before the World Championships,” Chebet said

The Eugene meet also serves as Athletics Kenya’s official selection trial for the women’s 5,000m and men’s 10,000m.

At the Rome Diamond League last Friday, Chebet missed the 5,000m world record by just three seconds.

But according to her coach and partner, Peter Bii of Asics Iten, there is no concern about potential burnout ahead of the Tokyo Worlds.

“She’ll have enough recovery time. The World Championships are mid-September, nearly two months after Eugene,” said Bii.

He added that nothing beyond Eugene is confirmed yet.

“She has to first make the 5,000m team in Eugene, then target the 10,000m at the national trials in Nairobi God willing. From there, we’ll decide the next steps,” Bii explained.

Chebet, who clinched silver at the 2022 Eugene Worlds and bronze in Budapest last year, has her eyes firmly set on gold this time around.

“That’s the main goal now. I know it’s not easy, everyone is chasing it but I’m staying focused. I want gold,” she declared.

At the Paris 2024 Olympics, she joined the exclusive club of distance legends, winning both the 5,000m (14:28.56) and 10,000m (30:43.25) titles.