In another world, Beatrice Chebet would today be boasting three world records to her name.
However, it was not to be as the double Olympic champion missed out on the women’s 3000m by at least six seconds at Sunday night’s Diamond League meeting in Rabat.
Chebet clocked 8:11.56 to win the race, ahead of Italian Nadia Batoccletti (8:26.27) and Irishwoman Sarah Healy (8:27.02) in second and third respectively.
That time was agonizingly close to the world record of 8:06.11, currently held by China’s Wang Junxia.
Despite the close shave with history, Chebet is more focused on the positive things of the night.
“I really like this distance. It´s nothing like a 5,000 or 10,000m, it´s something completely different and I am also good at it. Timewise I don´t have a big goal on the horizon. My main focus and goal are the World Championships in Tokyo,” the 25-year-old said.
She admitted that her main goal, coming into Sunday’s race, was to simply set a PB.
“I am so so happy. I was not preparing a world record attempt. I just came to run my personal best and I succeeded. I just have to believe in myself and then maybe after some months or years, that world record will come,” Chebet added.
The Commonwealth Games champion also holds the world record for the women’s 10,000m (28:54.14) as well as the 5km (13:54).
Still standing tall
It was also a glorious night for Nelly Chepchirchir who gave more reason why she is one to watch in the near future with victory in the women’s 1500m.
The youngster timed a season’s best of 3:58.04 to cross the finish line ahead of Ethiopia’s Worknesh Mesele (3:58.44) and fellow Kenyan, Dorcus Ewoi, who ended the night with a PB of 3:59.25 in third place.
It was Chepchirchir’s third straight win of the year, following successful outings in Germany and Doha.
In Germany, she clocked 4:23.99 to win the women’s mile at the Adizero Road to Records on April 26.
She then stopped the timer at 4:05.00 to triumph at the third leg of Diamond League in Doha, a week ago.
The towering runner was understandably elated to maintain her winning streak.
“I was excited to race again after my win in Doha. I came prepared and I am happy that I could win once again and run a season best. For now, I have no idea where my next competition will be,” she said.
Meanwhile, Commonwealth Games champion Ferdinand Omanyala added another podium finish to his resume when he came second in the men’s 100m.
The African record holder clocked 10.05, behind South Africa’s Akani Simbine, who ran 9.95 to cross the finish line first.
The 2022 World 100m champion Fred Kerley of the United States came third after clocking 10.07.
The finish was a morale booster for Omanyala whose last Diamond League race in Shanghai on May 3, ended in a ninth place finish (10.25).
The 2022 African champion – who also broke the continental record for the men’s 150m over a week ago – will be in a bullish mood as he heads to his next race at the Kip Keino Classic on May 31.
He said: “The race was very good and I am happy for achieving the second place, however, I still need to improve to achieve better results. My next race will be in Kenya and I will try to do better than here.”
Reality check for Reynold, Wanyonyi?
In the men’s 800m, Olympic champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi had to be content with third place after clocking 1:43.37.
Botswana’s Tshepiso Maselela continued his ‘good run’ from Doha, clocking a world lead of 1:42.69 to take top honour as Great Britain’s Max Burgin claimed second in a personal best of 1:43.34.
There was also a surprise in the men’s 1500m where America’s Jonah Koech stole in at the last metres to claim his most famous victory thus far.
The 2015 Africa Under 20 silver medalist – who until 2021 was eligible to represent Kenya – clocked a personal best of 3:31.43.
The 2022 World Under 20 champion, Reynold Cheruiyot, came second in a season’s best of 3:31.78 as his fellow Kenyan, Festus Lagat, clocked a PB of 3:32.06 to finish third.
World Under 20 3000m steeplechase champion Edmund Serem also departed Rabat with a smile after finishing third in the water jump and hurdles race.
The youngster clocked a PB of 8:07.47 in what was the final race of the night.
Olympic and world champion Soufiane El Bakkali recorded a world lead of 8:07.70 to take the win in front of home fans as Germany’s Fredderick Rupert clocked a national record of 8:01.49.
Attention now shifts to the Kip Keino Classic World Continental Tour Gold, set for Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nairobi on May 31.
