Eugene, Oregon | Saturday, 5 July 2025 – Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet has redefined the limits of women’s distance running by becoming the first woman in history to complete the 5000m in under 14 minutes. The double Olympic champion clocked a stunning 13:58.06 at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, breaking the previous world record by more than two seconds and etching her name permanently in the annals of athletics.
The electrifying race, part of the Wanda Diamond League, was staged at Hayward Field, where Chebet had previously set the 10,000m world record. This time, she returned for another historic performance—one that shook the athletics world and confirmed her status as the undisputed queen of long-distance running.
Record Pace from the Start
From the opening gun, it was clear this was no ordinary race. Led by world-class pacemakers, the field locked into a blistering pace immediately. The first 1000m was covered in 2:47.07, with the second pacemaker guiding the leaders through 2000m in 5:35.37 before stepping aside.
Chebet, along with Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay (the former world record holder) and fellow Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich, had already pulled away from the rest of the field. The pace remained aggressive, with Chebet hitting 3000m in 8:22.96, slightly ahead of sub-14-minute target pace.
Though the speed tapered slightly in the next kilometre—reaching 4000m in 11:14.12—Chebet had saved her most decisive move for the final lap.
A Finish for the Ages
With just 200 meters to go, Chebet unleashed a powerful kick that left her rivals behind. Tsegay faltered, Ngetich surged into second, but Chebet was untouchable. She crossed the line in 13:58.06, shaving 2.15 seconds off Tsegay’s 2023 world record and becoming the first woman in history to break the 14-minute barrier.
Ngetich finished in 14:01.29, the third-fastest time ever, while Tsegay placed third in 14:04.41.
“It means everything to me,” Chebet said post-race. “To come back to Eugene, a place of great memories, and do this… it’s a dream fulfilled.”
A Trailblazing Legacy
Chebet’s groundbreaking achievement has sent shockwaves through the athletics community. Already a double Olympic gold medallist and the 10,000m world record holder, this feat solidifies her dominance in distance running and sets a new benchmark for generations to come.
