The women's 10,000m final at the 2025 World Track and Field Championships in Tokyo, as reported by NBC Sports, ended in a thrilling display of strategy and speed, with Beatrice Chebet winning her first world title in the event. Already established as the world record holder and the reigning Olympic champion, having swept the 5,000m and 10,000m double last summer, Chebet entered the race with a critical advantage: versatility. She had "everything in her locker," capable of taking the pace "hard from the gun" or electing to "hang on and sprint," a quality that makes her supremely difficult to defeat.
The championship, held in sweltering conditions, quickly devolved into a strategic battle rather than a time trial. The tactics came strongly into play midway through the 25-lap event when the pace dramatically slowed. With two miles remaining, Chebet moved wide, and the pace dropped so severely that the elite field was described as "jogging," indicating the contenders' shared hesitation to do the "hard work" of leading. During this slow phase, Gudaf Tsegay, the defending champion who had planned to leave her final effort to the last kilometer (K), moved up to around sixth place, paying closer attention to the front, while Tsegay and the Olympic silver medalist Nardia Biathlete were "sticking to the favorite like glue". The sluggish pace—with an 8-kilometer segment that was incredibly slow—ensured that the gold would be decided entirely in the sprint finish, proving that "positioning is vital" in the final moments.
Related article - Uphorial Radio
Beatrice Chebet storms to 10,000m gold
The race ignited with exactly one kilometer remaining when Tsegay, fulfilling her stated conviction, finally launched her bid for glory. Tsegay initiated a "long hard kick," ramping the pace up to a "ferocious double pace" that made the last 800 meters "really hard". However, this pivotal move failed to create the necessary separation; Tsegay "hadn't shaken them off," and Chebet, the world record holder, remained in striking distance. In retrospect, Tsegay "left her bid for glory too late," inadvertently playing directly into the hands of Chebet.
The final drama unfolded in the final 200 meters. Chebet’s decisive move was triggered when her compatriot, Agnes (Getic), began moving around her outside.
This prompted Chebet to step out, realizing she could not afford to "lose the shoulder of Segai," and decided to "punch it and go". Chebet struck hard, running a 13-second segment in the final 200 meters, and demonstrating that she had "more in the last 60" meters than her rivals. The final 25 laps had come down to roughly "30 seconds of sprinting", and Chebet’s superior closing speed in those crucial final meters secured the gold medal and her first world championship title in the event. Meanwhile, Nardia Batli executed her race "perfectly," protecting her position to secure a national record and a sublime silver medal for Italy, while Tsegay settled for bronze this time, having failed to successfully defend her crown. Chebet’s victory underscored her ability to convert her versatility into championship success, solidifying her reign over the long distances.
