Beatrice Chebet of Kenya broke the 10,000 meters world record at the Prefontaine Classic meet on Saturday, clocking in at 28 minutes and 54.14 seconds. This time surpassed the previous record of 29.01.03 set by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey at FBK Stadium in the Netherlands on June 8, 2021.
In a race against Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia, Chebet finished ahead with a time of 29:05.92 at Eugene’s Hayward Field under cloudy and cool conditions. With three laps to go, she started to distance herself from the competition and gave her all in the final lap.
Reflecting on her performance, Chebet mentioned feeling strong and comfortable during the race. This was her first 10,000 meters race since 2020 in Nairobi. The 24-year-old athlete won the silver medal in the 5,000 meters at the world championships at Hayward Field in 2022 and previously captured the bronze in the same event at the worlds in Budapest the year before.
Chebet’s impressive finish at the Prefontaine Classic secured her a spot at her first Olympics in Paris this summer. She expressed her desire to compete in both the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, prioritizing the former in her upcoming races. She was thrilled to set a world record with her first 10,00
