Gudaf Tsegay and Beatrice Chebet face in the 5,000m event at the Rome Diamond League

World record holder Gudaf Tsegay and Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet will face off in the 5,000m at the Diamond League in Rome on Friday (June 6).

Beatrice Chebet is one of six Olympic champions set to compete in the Italian capital, being in sensational form. At the recent Diamond League in Rabat, she set an African record in the 3,000m with a time of 8:11.56 min, which puts her second in the all-time rankings.

Beatrice Chebet previously won the 5,000m in Xiamen, beating Gudaf Tsegay by one second. But Gudaf Tsegay is the last to beat Beatrice Chebet in a Diamond League event, at the 2023 final in Eugene, setting a world record (14:00.21 min).

Beatrice Chebet finished second then in a personal best of 14:05.92 min, but her recent form suggests she is ready to break that. The meeting record of 14:12.59 min is a slightly easier, but still lofty, goal.

Two-time world indoor champion Freweyni Hailu is also among the participants, as well as the home favorite Nadia Battocletti, Olympic silver medalist in the 10,000m.