The millions Beatrice Chebet will pocket after her world record heroics at Prefontaine Classic
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet after smashing the 10,000m world record at Prefontaine Classic.
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet smashed the 10,000m world record at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday and she is set to be rewarded handsomely for her efforts.
World Cross-Country champion Beatrice Chebet is still basking in her world record heroics after becoming the first woman to run 10,000m in under 29 minutes at the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday.
Chebet went to the Eugene Diamond League with intentions of securing Olympics qualification and got more than she bargained for, setting a new 10,000m world record of 28:54.14, after breaking the 29:01.03 set by Ethiopian Letesenbet Gidey three years ago.
It was actually Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay, the world 5,000m world record holder, who had gone to Eugene to attack her compatriot’s world record but she fell short even though she pushed Chebet hard.
Beatrice Chebet strikes with a world record at Prefontaine Classic to qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics
Beatrice Chebet strikes with a world record at Prefontaine Classic to qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics
Chebet executed a tactical race and left her rivals in her wake, crossing the finish line first with Tsegay second, after clocking 29:05.92, while Kenya’s Lilian Kasait completed the podium, also clocking a personal best time of 29:26.89.
The 24-year-old did not just walk home with an Olympics ticket and world record but she will also be rewarded with a big pay cheque.
Diamond League races have a prize pool of $25,000 (Ksh3,258,259) of which $10,000 (Ksh1,303,303) goes to the winner, $6,000 (Ksh781,982) to second place while third place earns $3,500 (Ksh456,156). The cash rewards go up to the eighth place, which fetches $500 (Ksh65,165).
Then there is a bigger reward of $50,000 (Ksh6,516,519) the minimum bonus awarded for breaking a world record. It means for her feat, Chebet is guaranteed at least $60,000 (Ksh7,819,823) from the race organisers for her blistering performance.
Besides this, Chebet is likely to be among the most consistent performers who will share a $200,000 (Ksh26,066,079) prize at the end of the season since she also won the 5,000m at the Doha Diamond League on May 10.
It is turning into a great season for Chebet, the world 5,000m bronze medallist, who has revealed her intentions to double in both 5,000m and 10,000m at the Paris Olympics.
