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Chebet Wins World Athletics Road Running Championships 5K

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by Clay Shaw
with photos by Clay Shaw and Karen Mitchell

10.1.23 Riga, Latvia—Beatrice Chebet of Kenya won the first ever World Athletics Road Running Championships 5K in 14:35 to establish herself as the first ever champion.  Chebet, who won gold at the world cross country event in Bathurst, Australia in February, adds another World Athletics Championships gold medal.  Chebet won by four seconds, which is a sizable win for the strength of the field and the distance.

Lillian Rengeruk of Kenya was second in 14:39.  Ejgayehu Taye of Ethiopia was third in 14:40.  18-year-old Medina Eisa was fourth in 14:41, earning a personal best.  Nadia Battocletti of Italy was fifth in 14:45 and set a new Italian national record.

Americans Weini Kelati and Fiona O’Keeffe both did well.  Kelati was seventh in 15:10 and O’Keeffe was eleventh in 15:40.

34 women finished the women’s elite race.  Hundreds took part in the mass 5k road race which start nearly two hours prior to the championships events.

“Flash interviews” from after the race:

Winner – Beatrice CHEBET, KEN

“Today, I had no tactics in mind because it is my first time in this Road Running event.  What I was sure about was that I have a very strong finish, so I knew I had to trust myself in the last few metres.  I am very happy for having this gold medal for my country  .  .  .  After such a long season, I am definitely going to take a break for a while before getting back into training – we will be preparing for the World Cross Country and the Olympics next year.   My goal is to defend my World Cross Country title, and then come back strong for the Paris Olympics.”

5th – Nadia BATTOCLETTI, ITA

The only thing in my mind was to go go go.  The course is great and I loved the energy from the crowd. For all of the 5k, I was pushing and pushing but just after the last km mark, I noticed that my competitors showed greater strength, but still I am really happy about the result.  Plus, I am really proud to be a part of the first ever World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga.  This season was strong and I have much to look forward in the upcoming season.

Full Results

Top Women

  1. 14:35 Beatrice Chebet, Kenya
  2. 14:39 Lillian Rengeruk, Kenya
  3. 14:40 Ejgayehu Taye, Ethiopia
  4. 14:41 Medina Eisa, Ethiopia
  5. 14:45 Nadia Battocletti, Italy
  6. 14:50 Joy Cheptoyek, Uganda
  7. 15:10 Weini Kelati, USA
  8. 15:18 Verity Ockenden, Great Britain
  9. 15:23 Francine Niyomukunzi, Burundi
  10. 15:25 Klara Lukan, Slovenia
  11. 15:40 Fiona O’Keeffe, USA
  12. 15:41 Caitlin Adams, Australia
  13. 15:45 Militsa Mircheva, Bulgaria
  14. 15:46 Nanami Watanabe, Japan
  15. 15:50 Tayla Kavanagh, South Africa
  16. 15:51 Kyla Jacobs, South Africa
  17. 15:55 Julie-Anne Staehli, Canada
  18. 15:59 Juliane Hvid, Denmark
  19. 15:59 Lauren Ryan, Australia
  20. 16:00 Paulina Kaczynska, Poland
  21. 16:03 Federica Del Bouno, Italy
  22. 16:04 Micheline Niyomahoro, Burundi
  23. 16:09 Peruth Chemutai, Uganda
  24. 16:14 Liza Sajn, Slovenia
  25. 16:15 Jessy Lacourse, Canada
The first ever World Athletics Road Racing Championships 5K started on the edge of Old Town and crossed the Akmens Bridge.
Crossing the Vansu Bridge (Suspension Bridge) the lead pack of six had broken away from the rest of the 34-runner field.
Beatrice Chebet of Kenya wins the first ever World Athletics 5K championship in 14:35. Chebet started the season with a win at the World Athletic Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia in February.
Lillian Rengeruk of Kenya earns the silver in 14:39, a personal best. Ejgayehu Taye of Ethiopia was third in 14:40. 18-year old Medina Eisa of Ethiopia was fourth with a 14:41 and a PB.
Nadia Battocletti of Italy is overjoyed with setting a new Italian record of 14:45, finishing fifth overall.
Weini Kelati of Flagstaff, AZ was the first American and seventh overall in 15:10.
Lillian Rengeruk and Beatrice Chebet of Kenya proudly display satisfaction in placing second and first respectively in the 5K.
Lauren Ryan of Australia congratulates race winner Beatrice Chebet of Kenya after the 5K.
Weini Kelati of the USA placed seventh in 15:10.
Francine Niyomukunzi of Burundi earned a national record of 15:23 and placed ninth.
Klara Lukan of Slovenia set a national record of 15:25 and placed tenth.
Fiona O’Keeffe of Chapel Hill, NC strides down the homestretch to finish eleventh in 15:40.
Bohdana Semyonova of Ukraine was 28th in 16:25, a PB for her.
Lina Kiriliuk of Lithuania had a PB of 16:38, placing 29th.
Verity Ockenden of Great Britain was eighth in 15:18, setting a personal best.
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