Chebet smashes 5000m World Record with historic sub-14 run in Eugene

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet etched her name into the history books on Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, becoming the first woman ever to break the 14-minute barrier in the 5000m. The double Olympic champion clocked a jaw-dropping 13:58.06, obliterating the previous world record of 14:00.21 held by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay.

Returning to Hayward Field—where she set the 10,000m world record last year—Chebet was part of a blistering trio that included Tsegay and fellow Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich. The race opened at a searing pace, with the first 1000m covered in 2:47.07 and 2000m reached in 5:35.37. By 3000m, Chebet was still on record pace, clocking 8:22.96.

Despite a slight dip in pace approaching 4000m (11:14.12), Chebet had enough left in the tank. With 200m to go, she unleashed a devastating kick that left her rivals behind. Tsegay faded, Ngetich surged into second, but Chebet was untouchable—crossing the line in a new world record time of 13:58.06.

Ngetich finished second in 14:01.29, the third-fastest time in history, while Tsegay settled for third in 14:04.41.

Chebet now holds world records in both the 5000m and 10,000m, cementing her status as one of the greatest distance runners of all time.