Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet crushes her own 5K world record
The double Olympic champion from Kenya became the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier in the 5K.
Double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet smashed the women's 5K world record with a time of 13 minutes, 54 seconds at the Cursa dels Nassos road race in Barcelona on Tuesday as she finished a blockbuster year on a high.
The Kenyan beat her previous record − set a year ago to the day at the Barcelona race − by 19 seconds, becoming the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier in the event.
Chebet was all on her own as she sprinted through the race and embraced friends at the finish line after adding another accolade to her name, having won the 5,000 and 10,000 meters at this year's Paris Games.
"I'm super happy as everything went according to plan," Chebet said in remarks provided by World Athletics. "I felt capable of running under 14 and I managed to do so. Two races in Barcelona and two world records, can I ask for more?"
The 24-year-old enjoyed a nearly flawless year, breaking the 10,000 world record in Eugene in May before claiming her second Diamond League title in the 5,000 in September.
Chebet said she will turn her attention to the World Championships in Tokyo in 2025, where she hopes to compete in both the 5,000 and 10,000, after picking up silver in 2022 and bronze in 2023 in the shorter distance.