Beatrice Chebet shattered the women's 10,000m world record at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League athletics meeting on Saturday.
The 24-year-old Kenyan clocked an extraordinary 28 minutes and 54.14 seconds, surpassing the previous record of 29:01.03 set by Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey in June 2021.
Chebet, already a distinguished athlete with two world championships medals in the 5,000m and a cross-country world champion title, demonstrated her exceptional prowess on the track once again.
Her record-breaking run came during a race designated as Kenya's Olympic qualifier, immediately establishing her as a top contender for gold at the upcoming Paris Olympics in August.
The mild, overcast conditions at Hayward Field proved ideal for the historic race. Chebet capitalized on the enthusiastic support of the crowd, the assistance of three pacemakers in the first half, and the venue's "wavelight" pace-setting technology.
These factors combined to help Chebet achieve the remarkable milestone of being the first woman to break 29 minutes in the 10,000m.
The race, although opening Saturday's events, was not part of the Diamond League program. It had been billed as a world record attempt by Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay, who had previously shattered the 5,000m world record at the same venue during the Diamond League finals last September.
Despite Tsegay's formidable reputation, Chebet's strategic pacing and perfectly timed move to the front secured her victory. Tsegay finished second with a time of 20:05.92, marking the third-fastest time ever recorded in the 10,000m.
Chebet's victory not only highlights her as a dominant force in long-distance running but also sets the stage for an exciting showdown at the Paris Olympics.
As the athletics world turns its eyes to August, Chebet's record-breaking performance in Eugene will be remembered as a defining moment in her career and in the history of women's track and field.
