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Prisca Chesang finished seventh in 34:42 to lead Uganda’s charge for a team bronze that was helped by national cross-country champion Stella Chesang finishing 10th in 34:58, Doreen Chesang 11th in 35:01 and Rispa Cherop 16th in 35:30.
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet made the gamble to send her as a wild card for the 2023 World Cross Country Championships stick as she bagged gold in the senior women’s race.
Chebet failed to finish the race during Kenya’s national trials, but put up a strong performance in Bathurst, Australia beating 10000m and 5000m world record holder Letsenbet Gidey to gold.
In what was the most dramatic race at the Mount Panorama course, Gidey looked strong favourite to win the world title, but Chebet seized the moment at the back straight to tip her rival.
The Ethiopian had broken through to the front as she headed for the final climb out of the swampy “Billabong” section, and looed to be bearing down on victory.
But a late charge from Chebet saw her close creep back, as the World 10000m champion tried to react, he legs gave way and collapsed to the ground, with Chebet sweeping through to cross the line in 33 minutes 48 seconds.
“I did not expect to win but I hung in,” said Chebet, who won the under-20 title at the last championships in Aarhus in 2019.
“I saw that towards the finish Gidey was a bit slower and I ran hard and I won. When we were running, I thought that she was not running fast anymore and I thought I have the potential to go and win.”
"It is God's work. The best I was expecting was a silver. I was ill during the trials but you never no with sports. I thank Athletics Kenya for believing in me," Chebet added.
Gidey was helped back onto her feet by Ethiopian officials, crossing the line in fourth, but was disqualified from the race.
Tsigie Gebreselama of Ethiopia took the silver in 33.56 and Agnes Jebet Ngetich took bronze for Kenya crossing the line at 34:00.
Edinah Jebitok and two-time world cross country champion Emily Chebet settled eighth and ninth in 34:45 and 34:40 respectively as Kenya reclaimed the team title from Ethiopia.
The victory by Chebet, who won the world under-20 title in 2019 in Aarhus, Denmark, saw Kenya win her eighth consecutive women’s 10km title.
Prisca Chesang finished seventh in 34:42 to lead Uganda’s charge for a team bronze that was helped by national cross-country champion Stella Chesang finishing 10th in 34:58, Doreen Chesang 11th in 35:01 and Rispa Cherop 16th in 35:30.
WORLD CROSS COUNTRY 2023
Senior Womens Results
1 Beatrice CHEBET KEN 33:48
2 Tsigie GEBRESELAMA ETH 33:56
3 Agnes NGETICH KEN 34:00
7 Prisca CHESANG UGA 34:42
10 Stella CHESANG UGA 34:58
11 Doreen CHESANG UGA 35:01
16 Rispa CHEROP UGA 35:30
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