Beatrice Chebet is the Sports Journalist Association of Kenya SJAK Sports Personality of the Month (SPOM) for the month of May 2024.

This follows her exploits  at the Prefontaine Classic, a popular track and field event held every year in Oregon, USA.

This was the 49^th edition of the meet and the fifth leg of the 2024 Diamond League – the highest-level international track and field circuit.

With an insatiable appetite for success, the Iten-based Chebet made history as the first ever woman to run the 10,000-meter distance in under 29 minutes as she clocked 28:54.14.

Her nomination as the May SPOM also entered her name in the annals of the award’s history as one of the few athletes to win the title three times.

Chebet beat 12 other strong candidates for the award, including reigning FIA African Rally Champion and current series leader Karan Patel; Gor Mahia striker Benson Omalla; Harambee Starlets player Rebecca Okwaro and E-Sports star Bilal Mohamed, amongst others.

Bilal became the first Esports player to be nominated for the monthly award, after winning the African Championship by defeating Nigeria’s Chukwudi Okoli 3-2 in the Street Fighter 6 final held in Lagos, Nigeria.

Also competing with Chebet were runners Daniel Mateiko and Brian Komen; footballers John Mark Makwata and Austin Odhiambo; amateur golfer Michael Karanga; esport Antony Nyamanya; Taekwondo master Patrick Thimangu; and Amos Obae, who was recently named the Rugby Super Series player of the tournament.

Others were Triza Atuka and Deborah Jesang, who were recognized as the best blocker and outside hitter, respectively, and later drafted into the African Dream Team during the 2024 Confederation of African Women’s Volleyball Clubs Championship in Egypt.

ALSO READ:Lawrence Cherono finds himself in trouble with the AIU again