Kenya's Beatrice Chebet Breaks 10,000M World Record

Kenya's Beatrice Chebet has broken the women’s 10,000m world record.

Chebet on Saturday, May 25 ran an impressive 28:54.14 to make history at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, United States (US), subject to the usual ratification procedures by World Athletics.

The time is an astounding seven seconds faster than Letesenbet Gidey’s previous world record of 29:01.03, set in 2021, making her the first woman in history to go below 29 minutes on the track.

Chebet at the same time also automatically sealed her ticket to the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the women's 10,000m.

Passing the 400m mark, world 5000m record holder Gudaf Tsegay and Chebet were in the lead, closely following the pacemakers. Lilian Kasait was also in the mix, running among the top three athletes.

Beatrice Chebet during a past Diamond League event in Doha, Qatar. /FILE

Passing the 1200m mark, Chebet and Tsegay were still running in the lead, with the Ethiopian’s main focus being to attack the world record set by her compatriot, Letesenbet Gidey.

Tsegay had set the 5000m world record at last year’s Prefontaine Classic, obliterating Faith Kipyegon’s world record that she had set at the Diamond League Meeting in Paris.

Passing the 3000m mark, the two women were running in the lead with Margaret Chelimo, Catherine Reline, and Emmaculate Anyango running from the front too. Kasait still had her place, running in third.

As the athletes passed the 5000m mark, Chebet had taken the lead, with Tsegay having faded to third place and Sarah Chelangat now running in second place. Chebet looked very comfortable to have taken the role of attacking the world record.

Passing the 7000m mark, Faith Chepkoech had now taken the lead with Tsegay now running in second and Chebet dropped to third. Kasait had been pushed to fourth place but she was certainly looking comfortable.

As the women passed the 9000m mark, Chepkoech was still running in the front with Tsegay running in second place and Chebet in third. Kasait was running in fourth, looking very poised.

However, it was Chebet who had better legs and took the top prize, winning in a world record time of 28:54.14.

Chebet won world championships silver and bronze medals in the 5000m the last two years. Among the prominent figures who led in congratulating her was President William Ruto who flew back to the country from his state visit to the United States (US).

"Congratulations Beatrice Chebet for breaking the women's 10,000m world record in Oregon. Your extraordinary performance, becoming the first woman in history to break 29 minutes on the track, fills us with pride," he wrote on social media.

For breaking the world record, Chebet is now in pole position to pocket Ksh5 million in line with President Ruto's order.