Two-time Olympic Champion Gains A Share Of Saturday's Spotlight By Running 13:58.06

By Oliver Hinson of DyeStat

John Nepolitan photo

EUGENE — Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet demolished the 14-minute barrier in the women's 5,000 meters at the 50th Prefontaine Classic thanks to an astonishing kick at Hayward Field. She claimed her third world record with a time of 13:58.06.

Chebet expressed thankfulness above everything in her post-race interview, thanking her coach, her husband, the Kenyan government, Athletics Kenya and Nike, among others, for putting her in the right position to break a barrier that once seemed impossible.

“I’m so happy,” Chebet said. “Today, I can say, is a great day for me.”

Chebet, a two-time Olympic champion, owned the world records in the 10,000 meters (28:54.14) and road 5 kilometers (13:54) prior to this meet, and she was already well on her way to the season of her life. On May 25, she ran the second fastest 3,000 meters of all time at the Rabat Diamond League, clocking an 8:11.56. Two weeks after that, she ran 14:03.69 in the 5,000 at the Rome Diamond League, also the second best mark of all time. 

Based on those races and her workouts, she, as well as the rest of the running world, knew that Gudaf Tsegay’s world record of 14:00.21 was on borrowed time.

“After running in Rome, I said I have to prepare for a record,” Chebet said, “because in Rome I was running to win a race, but after running 14:03, I said that I’m capable of running a world record.”

Chebet ran with the pace lights, which were set to 14:00.21, for about the first half of the race, clicking off 66 and 67-second laps and coming through 3 kilometers in 8:22.96. In the last few laps, though, she let the lights drift, and they outpaced her by about three seconds at the bell.

As she headed down the back stretch, it looked like her quest would end similarly to Faith Kipyegon’s sub-4 attempt last week in Paris, if a little closer.

Unlike Kipyegon (who broke the world record in the 1,500 meters just 90 minutes after Chebet’s race), though, Chebet clearly had some reserves, and she used all of them in the last 200 meters, closing in about 28 seconds. 

“I was a bit nervous,” Chebet said of seeing the lights get ahead of her. “But I said, I have to push. I just have to believe in myself.”

Chebet took inspiration from Kipyegon’s record attempt, a time trial organized by Nike and dubbed “Breaking4.” Kipyegon used a special kit and a vast web of pacers to try to run under four minutes in the mile. Though she came up short with a mark of 4:06.42, the fact that she was bold enough to make the attempt was meaningful for Chebet.

“‘If Faith is trying, why not me?’” Chebet asked herself.

Two two runners both live and train and Eldoret, Kenya and sometimes work out together. 

"Today she ran so fast, I'm so impressed," Kipyegon said of Chebet. "Under 14, that is really great. We have to push ourselves as women to show other girls that anything is possible."

Breaking barriers at Hayward Field was not unprecedented for her — she ran her world record in the 10,000 and became the first woman to run under 29 minutes in the event at last year’s Prefontaine Classic, beating Tsegay, her main rival.

She also beat Tsegay this year. The Ethiopian finished third with a time of 14:04.41. Kenya’s Agnes Ngetich was second with a time of 14:01.29, the third fastest mark ever.

With the momentum Chebet has after her last six weeks of racing, she appears to be once again the clear favorite in the 5,000 and 10,000 heading into September’s World Championships.

Saturday's race also served as the Athletics Kenya World Championships Trials (for the 5,000), so she will not have to run in the the national championships meet, held in Nairobi on July 22. Instead, she will run the 10,000.