Beatrice Chebet faced a formidable challenge at the 2025 World Athletics Championships, stepping into the women’s 5K event after already securing a gold medal in the 10K. This dynamic put her in a unique position, as she had to compete against not only herself but also her own exhaustion, coming up against her toughest rival, Faith Kipyegon, the world record holder in the 1500m. The competition raised vital questions: could Chebet clinch the coveted double-gold in both the 5000m and 10,000m at the upcoming Olympic Games and world championships? Or would Kipyegon, the reigning world champion, thwart her ambitions?
Despite the race seemingly favoring Kipyegon, Chebet showcased her elite status in the distance running realm, crossing the finish line first and earning the gold medal.
The race saw American runner Shelby Houlihan trying to reinvigorate the U.S. hopes following previous disappointments in distance events. In the early part of the race, Houlihan and teammate Josette Andrews took the lead with a steady pace, resulting in a tightly packed field of competitors behind them. Italy’s Olympic medalist Nadia Battocletti also kept close, while Chebet and Kipyegon remained at the back, seemingly biding their time.
As the laps progressed, Houlihan found herself leading at the halfway mark with a time of 7:51.29, while the intensity of the race began to increase with Ngetich moving into the second position. At the 3000m mark, the field was still tightly knit, with each runner honing in on the strategy required to secure victory.
With three laps to go, the tension rose as athletes contemplated making a decisive move. A slow buildup favored Kipyegon, whose reputation for a powerful finishing kick was well-known. As the laps unfurled, no one seemed ready to risk an early effort. However, Kipyegon eventually surged to the front at the 500m mark, alongside Battocletti, leaving Houlihan trailing behind for the first time.
As the bell rang, Chebet made her move, stepping up to second place, with Andrews and Tsegay in close pursuit. In a dramatic final 100m, Chebet’s pace surged ahead, culminating in a triumphant finish of 14:54.36. Kipyegon followed closely in 14:55.07, while Battocletti secured third with 14:55.42. Chebet’s last lap time was an impressive 57.6 seconds, solidifying her dominance.
Despite her earlier struggles, Houlihan launched a late sprint and ultimately finished fourth, closely missing out on a medal but showcasing resilience. Andrews finished sixth, while Ngetich, expected to perform strongly, ended up in 15th place after failing to find the necessary speed.
The final standings for the event were as follows:
1. Beatrice Chebet (KEN): 14:54.36
2. Faith Kipyegon (KEN): 14:55.07
3. Nadia Battocletti (ITA): 14:55.42
4. Shelby Houlihan (USA): 14:57.42
5. Gudaf Tsegay (ETH): 14:57.82
6. Josette Andrews (USA): 15:00.25
7. Marta García (ESP): 15:01.02
8. Hannah Nuttall (GBR): 15:01.25
9. Fantaye Belayneh (ETH): 15:02.05
10. Rose Davies (AUS): 15:03.01
11. Linden Hall (AUS): 15:04.03
12. Nozomi Tanaka (JPN): 15:07.34
13. Medina Eisa (ETH): 15:07.47
14. Maureen Koster (NED): 15:07.58
15. Agnes Jebet Ngetich (KEN): 15:13.78
16. Joy Cheptoyek (UGA): 15:18.98
In addition to the women’s 5000m final, the Day 8 Evening Schedule for the championships included various events across different competitions, showcasing the diversity and talent of track and field athletes globally. NBC and Peacock served as the official streaming partners, ensuring fans could catch all the action live along with archived footage available through FloTrack.
