Beatrice Chebet of Kenya made history at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on Saturday when she broke the women’s 10,000m world record after clocking an incredible 28:54.14* in the.
This time eclipses Letesenbet Gidey’s previous world record of 29:01.03 by an astounding seven seconds, set in 2021.
The race was a thrilling showcase of endurance and strategy, with Chebet and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay pacing stride-for-stride with the lights marking the world record pace. As the race progressed, Chebet’s determination became evident.
With three laps remaining, she surged ahead, the lead now hers alone, and the weight of a world record attempt resting squarely on her shoulders.
With 800 meters to go, Chebet extended her lead, pulling ahead of the pace lights by two strides. The excitement inside Hayward Field was palpable as fans rose to their feet, sensing the impending historic moment.
Chebet’s relentless pace brought her to the finish line in a time that rewrote the record books, making her the first woman to run the 10,000m in under 29 minutes.
Gudaf Tsegay also delivered a remarkable performance, finishing second with a time of 29:05.92, moving her to third on the world all-time list.
The depth of the field was highlighted by the fact that nine women finished the race in under 30 minutes, a significant achievement given that prior to this event, only 22 performances in history had broken that barrier.
Exhausted yet triumphant, Chebet collapsed on the track after crossing the finish line, her monumental effort leaving her splayed out in exhaustion.
Tsegay soon joined her, and the two athletes shared a moment of camaraderie, embracing as the new world record time flashed on the scoreboard behind them.
Chebet’s historic run not only solidifies her status as a dominant force in long-distance running but also sets a thrilling precedent for future competitions.
As she looks ahead to the Paris Olympics in August, her performance in Eugene will be remembered as a defining moment in the sport.
