Beatrice Chebet has been awarded the LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month (SPOM) for May 2024, following her outstanding performance at the Prefontaine Classic, a prominent track and field tournament held annually in Oregon, USA.
This event marked the 49th edition of the meet and the sixth leg of the 2024 Diamond League, the premier international track and field circuit.
Chebet, hailing from Iten, made history by becoming the first woman to run the 10,000-meter race in under 29 minutes, clocking an impressive 28:54.14. Her selection as the May SPOM cements her place in the award’s history as one of the few athletes to win it three times.
“This award allows LG Electronics to foster sports camaraderie among our champions and communities across various disciplines. Our commitment is to keep our sports stars’ desires, dreams, and visions alive. Recognizing extraordinary talent is crucial for us, and Chebet is undeniably deserving of the May prize,” stated Dongwon Lee, LG’s Managing Director for East Africa.
Chebet triumphed over 12 other outstanding candidates for the prize, including reigning FIA African Rally Champion and current series leader Karan Patel, Gor Mahia striker Benson Omalla, Harambee Starlets midfielder Rebecca Okwaro, and E-Sports star Bilal Mohamed, among others. Bilal made history as the first Esports player to be nominated for the monthly award after winning the African Championship 3-2 over Nigeria’s Chukwudi Okoli in the Street Fighter 6 final in Lagos, Nigeria.
Other nominees included runners Daniel Mateiko and Brian Komen, footballers John Mark Makwata and Austin Odhiambo, amateur golfer Michael Karanga, esport player Antony Nyamanya, Taekwondo master Patrick Thimangu, and Amos Obae, recently crowned Rugby Super Series player of the tournament. Additionally, Triza Atuka and Deborah Jesang were honored as the best blocker and outside hitter, respectively, and were selected for the African Dream Team at the 2024 Confederation of African Women’s Volleyball Clubs Championship in Egypt.
SJAK President James Waindi praised all the nominees and encouraged Chebet to lead Kenya’s medal campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Chebet’s incredible feat in Oregon shattered the previous world record of 29:01.03 set by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey in 2021. She also broke Kenya’s national record of 29:32.53, set by Vivian Cheruiyot at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Despite her remarkable success, Chebet revealed that achieving a world record was not her original intention. “I did not plan for it,” she said, crediting her competitor, Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, for setting the pace. “Gudaf wanted a world record, so I decided to go along and see how my body felt. It responded wonderfully, so I moved forward.”
Chebet and Tsegay, both amicable competitors, embraced each other after the race. “She congratulated me, telling me, ‘You are the best, you are strong,'” Chebet recalled.
The Oregon event also served as Athletics Kenya’s qualifying race for the 10,000m at the upcoming Paris Summer Games. Chebet’s victory not only secured her a spot on the Kenyan team but also showcased her formidable skill in her first 10,000-meter race since 2020.
Reported By Meshack Awino.
