Kipyegon says she is prepared to double at World Championships

Faith Kipyegon wins the 5000M women final race during the Trials for World Athletics Championship held at Nyayo National stadium in Nairobi on July 07, 2023.[Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Double record breaker Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon will represent Kenya in both 5,000m and 1500m at the 2023 Budapest World Championships next month.

This is after a comfortable win in the 5,000m race during the national trials for the World Championships at the Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi on Friday.

The world's queen of the track had last month shattered the 1500m world record (3:49.11) at the Diamond League in Florence, Italy on June 2 before running another jaw-dropping race that saw her set the 5,000m mark at 14:05.20 in Paris on June 9.

And yesterday, Kipyegon - a double world and Olympic Champion (in 1,500m) confirmed her status, winning the women's 5,000m at the trials and in the process making a huge announcement - that she would be flying to Budapest with a clear intention to double in 5,000m and 1,500m.

Kipyegon cruised 14:53.90 to secure a comfortable win against second-placed Lilian Kasait who crossed the finishing mark in 14:56.50.

World silver medallist Margaret Chelimo who stuck in the leading pack until the last two laps finished third in 15:07.49.

The win meant that Kipyegon earned an automatic ticket to the Budapest World Championships set to take place in Hungary from August 19 to 27.

World Cross Country champion Beatrice Chebet who was to compete at the women's 5,000m final had a wild card after clinching the 2022 Diamond League trophy in the event.

Chebet who was expected to challenge Kipyegon in 5,000m will face the record breaker in the women's 1,500m final today, according to the Athletics Kenya start list.

Kipyegon ran a well-judged race controlling the pace as she ran side by side with Kasait, the 5,000m national champion.

Kasait won the women's 5,000m during the National Championships also at the Nyayo Stadium two weeks ago.

"I am happy for the (5,000m win). I had prepared well knowing that everything was possible at the national trials," Kipyegon said after the win.

She confirmed that she would double in 5,000m and 1,500m if the federation and her coach gives her the green light.

"From today's win, I am going to double at the World Championships. The 5,000m is an additional race for me; the major focus will be to defend the 1,500m title as we see what will happen in 5,000m (in Budapest)," Kipyegon, who was awarded a portrait by a fan after finishing the race, said.

She signaled Kasait to momentarily take the lead in the second half before making her major move at the sound of the bell and sprinting home in the final 200m.

Kipyegon also has a wild card in 1,500m after lifting last year's Diamond League trophy.

She won gold in 1,500m at the 2016 and 2020 Olympic Games and also has under her belt the 2017 and 2022 world titles.

Kasait on the other hand has a 5,000m African bronze medal from 2019 and finished fifth (in 5,000m) at the 2019 World Championships in Doha, Qatar.