Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet set a new world record in the women’s 5,000 meters on Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic, finishing the race in an astonishing 13 minutes, 58.06 seconds.
With this performance, Chebet became the first woman in history to run the event in under 14 minutes, breaking the previous record of 14:00.21 set by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay at the same meet in 2023.
Realizing she was within reach of the record, Chebet made a powerful push in the final 400 meters to secure the historic time.
Agnes Jebet Ngetich of Kenya finished second with a time of 14:01.29, while Tsegay took third in 14:04.41.
Chebet, 25, made headlines at the Paris Olympics by winning gold in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, becoming only the third woman ever to accomplish that double.
Just last month in Rome, Chebet had set the world’s fastest 5,000m time of the year with a 14:06.39 finish. That race, she said, changed her mindset. “In Rome, I was just racing to win,” Chebet explained. “After running 14:06, I knew I had the potential to go for the world record.”
She also holds the world record in the 10,000 meters, clocking 28:54.14 at last year’s Prefontaine Classic — becoming the first woman ever to go under 29 minutes in that event.
The Prefontaine Classic, held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, is the only U.S. stop on the Diamond League track and field circuit.
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