The World Athletics Championships 2023 will be held in Budapest from August 19 to 27.
Here are the top three contenders for the gold medal in women’s 5000m in the Hungarian capital:
Faith Kipyegon
A week after she set the 1500m world record in Florence, Faith Kipyegon etched her name into the record books for the 5000m, with a timing of 14:05.20s in Paris in June.
Coming into the World Championships, it is hard to look past the Kenyan athlete, who is used to dominating the 1500m.
What made Kipyegon’s record-breaking run in France even more incredible is the fact that it was her first 5000m race in nearly eight years. If she continues on that form, it will be hard for anyone to stop her.
Personal Best: 14:05.20s
Season’s Best: 14:05.20s
Gudaf Tsegay
FILE PHOTO: Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia. | Photo Credit: AP
Reigning world champion, Gudaf Tsegay will look to continue her tussle with Kipyegon, which has usually favoured the latter.
Tsegay, who won bronze in Tokyo in 5000m, has a season’s best of 14:12.29s, which puts her fourth in the all-time list.
Personal Best: 14:12.29s
Season’s Best: 14:12.29s
Letesenbet Gidey
FILE PHOTO: Ethiopian athlete Letesenbet Gidey. | Photo Credit: AFP
Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey is the one right behind Kipyegon in the 2023 season’s standings. In fact, it was Gidey’s mark that Kipyegon shattered to set the new world record.
The 25-year-old, who holds the world record for 10,000m, is yet to win a major medal in the 5000m event. That is something she will look to rectify this time out at Budapest.
Personal Best: 14:06.62s
Season’s Best: 14:07.94s
Wildcard - Sifan Hassan
FILE PHOTO: Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan. | Photo Credit: REUTERS
Reigning 5000m and 10,000m Olympic champion Sifan Hassan has had a troublesome couple of years. After a historic Tokyo campaign, the Dutch athlete shifted her focus to marathons, but is zoning back to track events.
Personal Best: 14:13.42s
Season’s Best: 14:13.42s
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