However, Team Kenya head coach Julius Kirwa jumped to her defence, noting that she was picked on the strength of her splendid run on the international stage.
“We had to include some athletes who were not part of the top eight and they did better in training so they get the chance to form part of Team Kenya,” Kirwa said.
“We were determined to field the best team possible, so that’s what informed the changes,” he added.
Kirwa said Chebet took the place of Irene Cheptai, who finished third in the women’s 10km race at the National Cross Country Championships but was ruled out due to an Achilles tendon injury.
Chebet went on to light up the course and took the battle to her opponents in Bathurst. Two months after winning the World Cross-Country title in Bathurst, Australia, she was at it again.
Just as she had pledged, Chebet obliterated the women’s 5,000m field at the Kip Keino Classic in Nairobi on May 13, clocking 15:15.82 to stand atop the podium at the 60,000-capacity Moi Stadium, Kasarani Arena.
She beat Margaret Kipkemboi Chelimo to second in 15:16.28 with Judith Kiyeng, the young sister to former world 3,000m steeplechase champion Hyvine Kiyeng settling for third position.
“It was my first race this season and I’m longing for a better year because I was here to test my speed and endurance. My season will even get better with many races lined up.”
Chebet has vowed to cap off her splendid streak of success with one more vintage performance at the upcoming World Championships in Budapest, Hungary, in August.
“I’ll be concentrating on the track in Budapest, Hungary, and I’m confident that I can excel. I was quite driven to compete in the World Cross Country Championships in Australia. I had a nice foundation to build on as I got ready for the 2017 World Championships,” Chebet said.
The National Police Service officer said that her aspirations to storm to the gold podium in Hungary are now unstoppable after her Australian landmark victory.
She will be eyeing another glory in the women’s 5,000m after scooping a silver medal during the bristling Oregon 22 championships in the USA last year.
Chebet has pledged to light up the track in Budapest, adding that she will not rest on her laurels until she realises her solemn dream of shattering the world record.
“Fortunately, the course of events shows that people can achieve their goals if they keep trying. Even athletes of a calibre who are regarded as unstoppable can be defeated with attention and drive.”
“In Australia, I motivated myself and had faith in my ability to win a gold medal. Now I can do anything, even break a world record. Now all I have to do is continue my training and practice the necessary discipline.”
Chebet also revealed he hopes to dominate her specialty in the Diamond League, which officially started in Doha, Qatar on May 5.
She hopes to replicate the sublime form that catapulted her to the women’s 5000m title during the Weltklasse Zurich 2022 Diamond League at Stadion Letzigrund on September 07, 2022.
There, she wrapped up in 14:31.03 to dazzle a star-studded field that included double Olympic champion Sifan Hassan and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, pocketing Sh3.6 million in prize purse and a silverware in the process.
“I’m training hard to perform well in Nairobi. Thereafter, I will be aiming to bag wins in the Diamond League. I’m particularly focused on the races in Oslo (June 15) and London ( July 23).”
After lighting up the Hayward Field Track in Eugene, Oregon to storm to the silver during last year’s World Championships, Chebet has vowed to run away with the title in Brussels come August.
“My main target is the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary in August. I’m glad I earned a wildcard to the championships after winning the Diamond League last season.
“I’m targeting to improve my Personal Best time. I’ve previously done a 14:31 but I’d like to lower that to 14:30. Chebet has urged budding athletes to brush aside all manner of distractions that have the potential to sway them unnecessarily from their ultimate prize.
“To achieve success in life they only need to be disciplined and focused on what they do. That’s the only path to success,” Chebet said.