Beatrice Chebet adds title to her collection on track competitions

Beatrice Chebet [Courtesy]

World junior 5000m champion Beatrice Chebet added another global silverware to her name yesterday after initial decision that placed her third was overturned by the official following a video review.

After just under six kilometres of running, the first three athletes Chebet and Ethiopian pair Tariku and Gebreselama - crossed the line together, all being awarded the same time of 20:50.

It looked like Chebet had broken the tape first and she raised her arms in celebration, only for Tariku to initially be announced as the winner. However, after analysis of the photo finish, the result was revised with Chebet finally confirmed as the winner.

“At first I was disappointed, as I was told I was third and I thought I had won, but now I am happy,” said Chebet, who was the dominant winner at last month’s Kenyan trials. “I felt strong when I sprinted to the line. My country will be happy and celebrating that I have won.”

It didn’t take long for Ethiopia and Kenya to stamp their authority at the head of the field. However, even though the two distance running powerhouses had won all of the 26 previous women’s U20 team titles, Uganda made it clear that they were not going to let their East African rivals have it all their own way, also packing well at the front of the field from the outset.

At the end of the first two-kilometre lap reached in 7:14, it was Uganda’s Sarah Chelangat who was leading the pack, the 17-year-old who took gold in the 3000m/cross country event at the Youth Olympic Games last year.

However, she was closely followed by Tariku and Jackline Rotich, who would eventually place ninth, heading a leading group of about 20, which also consisted of four Japanese athletes, an early indication that they would be in the hunt for a team medal.

Up the hill on the second lap, the leading group was comprising Kenyans, Ethiopians and one Ugandan, with a small gap to two Japanese and Nadia Battocletti.