Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet is gearing up for the Lisbon 10K road race on March 9, entering the competition with confidence and a focus on victory rather than record-breaking ambitions. The 24-year-old Kenyan athlete, known for her dominance in both track and cross-country events, is poised to make an impact in her second race of the 2025 season.
Chebet, who holds the women’s 10,000m world record, has consistently proven herself as one of the world’s top distance runners. Despite her impressive credentials, she remains grounded about her goals for the upcoming race in Portugal. While many anticipate she could challenge the 10km world record set by Agnes Ng’etich at 28:46, Chebet has chosen to prioritize winning over chasing records.
“That record is impressive, but I’m not sure I can do that,” she shared. “I’ll just try to win the race.” Her current personal best over 10km on the road is 32:52, a time she achieved in 2019. Since then, she has evolved into one of the sport’s most formidable figures, breaking records on the track and excelling in cross-country events.
Chebet’s preparation for the Lisbon race has been methodical. She began her 2025 season with a commanding victory at the Elgoibar Cross Country race in Spain, where she completed the challenging course in 25:49. Her performance placed her well ahead of Ethiopia’s Melknat Wudu and Burundi’s Francine Niyomukunzi. Reflecting on that race, Chebet noted that the demanding circuit was ideal for building strength and confidence ahead of future competitions.
Her victory in Elgoibar reaffirmed her place among the best in the sport and served as a continuation of her remarkable 2024 campaign. Last year, she set a new 10,000m world record with a time of 28:54.14 at the Prefontaine Classic, solidifying her legacy as one of the greatest long-distance runners in history. She capped off the year with a groundbreaking performance in Barcelona, where she became the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier in the 5km road race, clocking an astonishing 13:54.
As she prepares for Lisbon, Chebet is maintaining her focus on consistent training and using the race as a stepping stone for the rest of the season. Her ability to excel across various terrains and distances has been a hallmark of her career, and her recent performances suggest she is in peak form.
Chebet’s confidence heading into the Lisbon 10K is bolstered by her history of strong starts to the season. Last year, her win in Elgoibar set the stage for an unforgettable season, highlighted by her second World Cross Country title in Belgrade. She hopes her dominant early-season performances will once again lead to a successful year.
The Lisbon 10K presents an exciting challenge for Chebet, who continues to inspire with her resilience, talent, and dedication to her craft. While she downplays the possibility of breaking records, her remarkable consistency and determination suggest that she remains a force to be reckoned with in the world of athletics.
