In a race that was set up as a 10,000m world record attempt, Beatrice Chebet of Kenya ran 28:54.14* to make history at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on Saturday (25).
The time is an astounding seven seconds faster than Letesenbet Gidey’s previous world record of 29:01.03, set in 2021.
Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay moved to third on the world all-time list with her runner-up finish of 29:05.92, as the top four all ran faster than 30 minutes.
In a race that was hosting Kenya’s 10,000m trial for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Tsegay and Chebet stayed within a stride of the lights marking world record pace throughout, until Chebet sped ahead with three laps remaining, the lead all her own, and with it the weight of a world record attempt.
With 800m to go, Chebet – the two-time world cross country champion who also claimed world 5km gold last year – pulled ahead of the lights by two whole strides as fans inside Hayward Field began standing in their seats.
After the finish, Chebet fell to the track, splayed out in exhaustion, as Tsegay finished and joined her on the track. When the women stood, they hugged as the new world record flashed on the scoreboard behind them.
After only her second ever 10,000m race, Chebet adds this world record to the world 5km record of 14:13 she set in Barcelona in December.
More to follow…
