Beatrice Chebet has clinched Kenya’s first gold medal at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo by dominating the women’s 10,000 metres final on Saturday, September 13, 2025.
Crossing the line in 30:37.61, the Olympic champion added the world title to her growing list of honours, which already includes the world record over this distance.
The 25-year-old remained close to the leaders throughout a strategic, tightly packed race.
In the final lap, she shadowed Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay and Italy’s Nadia Battocletti, both of whom had pushed the pace in earlier stages.
Then, on the curve of the final bend, Chebet launched a decisive surge. Her sprint down the home straight proved too strong for her rivals.
Battocletti secured silver with an Italian record of 30:38.23, making history as Italy’s first-ever medallist in this event at a World Championships. Tsegay took bronze in 30:39.65. Fellow Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich came fourth in 30:42.66.
This victory ended a decade-long gold drought for Kenya in the women’s 10,000 metres at the world championship level.
The last time a Kenyan woman won this title was Vivian Cheruiyot in Beijing in 2015. Chebet’s triumph means she now holds the Olympic title, the world record and a world championship crown, a rare distinction in distance running.
Chebet’s success in Tokyo follows an extraordinary season. Earlier this year, she became the first woman to run the 5,000 metres in under 14 minutes, clocking 13:58.06 at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene. She also holds the 10,000 metres world record of 28:54.14, set in Eugene in May 2024.
By 2024, she had already established herself as the world number one across multiple disciplines, including the 5,000m, 10,000m and cross-country.
Omanyala
Kenya’s sprint hopes also stayed alive with Ferdinand Omanyala qualifying for the men’s 100m semi-finals.
The African record holder clocked 10.12 seconds to finish third in his heat, sealing automatic qualification. South Africa’s Akani Simbine won the race in 10.02, while Ghana’s Abdul-Rasheed Saminu crossed second in 10.09. It was a strong showing for African sprinters, with all three advancing.
The Netherlands’ Elvis Afrifa also progressed as a time qualifier after finishing fourth in 10.15. World silver medallist Letsile Tebogo of Botswana looked impressive in his heat, while leading medal contenders Kishane Thompson, Noah Lyles and Oblique Seville also eased through.
Kenya’s women’s 1500m team added more good news. Faith Kipyegon, Nelly Chepchirchir, Susan Ejore and debutant Dorcus Ewoi all booked their places in the semi-finals.
Kipyegon, the world and Olympic champion, controlled her race to win in 4:02.55.
Chepchirchir and Ejore also topped their heats, while Ewoi impressed with a strong fourth-place finish in her championship debut.
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