Tsegay Gudaf sets sight on breaking 14 minutes after crushing Faith Kipyegon’s 5000m world record in Oregon

Ethiopia’s reigning 10,000m world champion, Gudaf Tsegay says she will attempt to become the first woman in history to go under 14 minutes after producing an
astonishing run to smash the women’s 5000m world record at the 2023 Diamond League Final in Eugene, Oregon on Sunday.

The 26 year old ran 14:00.21 to take almost five seconds off the world record of 14:05.20 that Faith Kipyegon set in Paris in June as part of a record spree
that also saw the Kenyan set global marks for the 1500m and mile.

A fast time had been on the cards and world indoor 1500m record-holder Tsegay delivered in sensational style. The pacemakers led her through 1000m in 2:48.08
and 2000m in 5:37.24, before Tsegay’s Ethiopian compatriot Birke Haylom reached 3000m in front in 8:26.03 – well on world record pace.

Tsegay maintained that tempo, reaching 4000m in 11:16.89. She only had Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet for company at that point but soon she left the two-time world
medallist behind, too, as she strode away targeting another historic performance.

Tsegay created a gap on Chebet with two laps to go and by the backstraight she had stormed ahead of the lights indicating world record pace, too.

She reached the bell in around 12:55 and with the crowd on their feet and the clock ticking towards 14 minutes, she crossed the line just after that, in
14:00.21.

A delighted Gudaf says post race she has achieved what she came to Oregon to do, that is break the world record.

‘My focus today is world record. Because I’m so hungry [for the] World Championship, my focus in Budapest was to be a World Champion, but I missed the 5000m
because of injury, my leg was problem. I could not sleep but I still have the hunger and I am very happy I have broken the record,’ said Gudaf who has now
set her sight on going under 14 minutes.

‘Yes, I will try to run under 14 minutes next year,’ she vowed.