Sunday 06 / July / 2025
WASHINGTON: Kenya's Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon smashed world records of 5000 meters and 1500 meters respectively at Wanda Diamond League meeting in Eugene, also known as the Prefontaine Classic, on Saturday.
Double Olympic champion Chebet became the first woman in history to finish 5000m under 14 minutes. The 10,000m world record holder broke away from the rest of the field along with Gudaf Tsegay and Agnes Jebet Ngetich after 2000m. In the last 200m of homestretch, Chebet was away and clear to win in 13 minutes and 58.06 seconds, taking 2.15 seconds off Tsegay's world record. Ngetich took second place in 14:01.29, the third-fastest time in history, and Tsegay placed third in 14:04.41.
"I'm so happy to become the first woman to run under 14 minutes," said Chebet. "After Rome [where she ran 14:03.69], I knew that I was capable of running a world record. I told myself, 'if Faith [Kipyegon] is trying for a world record in Eugene, why not me too?'"
Chebet's compatriot Kipyegon broke her own 1500m world record with 3:48.68. The multiple world and Olympic champion had made history last week by producing the fastest mile performance at a challenge race in Paris.
Kipyegon tracked the pacemaker closely through 400m and 800m, but she had Olympic silver medalist Jessica Hull for company. The Australian was still just a stride or two behind Kipyegon when going into the final lap, but the 31-year-old world record holder eventually won by almost three seconds.
Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji came through for second with 3:51.44 ahead of Hull (3:52.67).
