Kenya’s distance running great Hellen Obiri has thrown her full support behind stars Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet , praising their record-chasing performances and declaring them the future legends of global athletics.
A seasoned marathoner and two-time world champion over 5000m, Hellen Obiri revealed she has been closely following the duo’s recent exploits on the track. Each time they race, she says, they leave her awestruck.
“My goodness, those ladies are so incredible,” Obiri said in a video shared by Citius Mag on You tube. “Honestly, I can say I’ve been watching… and then, like yesterday, she [Chebet] raced well. I think she has all it takes to have a world record. I hope she gets it soon.”
Chebet is coming off a sensational performance at the Diamond League meeting in Rome. She stormed to a 14:03.69 finish, the second-fastest 5000m in history. This was behind Gudaf Tsegay’s world record of 14:00.21 set at the 2023 Prefontaine Classic. That run has sparked global conversation, and Obiri believes the 25-year-old is inches away from snatching the world record.
Meanwhile, Kipyegon, the reigning world and Olympic champion, is preparing to chase her own slice of history. Already the world record holder in the mile with her 4:07.64 from Monaco 2023. She now eyes an even more audacious feat, becoming the first woman to run the mile under four minutes.
Obiri believes it’s only a matter of time.
“For Faith, I think she’s in good shape. I’m just waiting to see how far she can go, but I do trust she can go sub-four. She has all it takes,” she added.
The 2023 New York City Marathon champion was full of admiration for both athletes, hailing them as trailblazers who are putting Kenya on the global map in style. Their form, she said, is rewriting expectations in women’s distance running.
“They’re doing things people never thought possible. Every time they step on the track, I’m left wondering just how good they can get,” Obiri shared. “They’re inspiring the world, and I’m proud to back them all the way.”
