Kenya’s Chebet women’s 5000m world record ratified by World Athletics

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet has officially been confirmed as the fastest woman in history over 5000m after World Athletics ratified her stunning 13:58.06 run at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in Eugene on 5 July.

Chebet’s performance made her the first woman ever to run under 14 minutes for the distance, breaking Gudaf Tsegay’s previous record of 14:00.21 set in Eugene in 2023.

The 25-year-old passed 3000m in 8:22.96, stayed strong in the middle laps, and then finished powerfully to take 2.15 seconds off the record.

“I’m so happy to become the first woman to run under 14 minutes,” Chebet said after the race. “After Rome, where I ran 14:03, I knew I was capable of a world record. It feels amazing to see my hard work pay off and to make history for Kenya.”

The world record ratification adds to Chebet’s growing legacy. Last year in Eugene, she also set the 10,000m world record, proving her dominance over both long-distance events.

Now, with the Tokyo 2025 World Championships only weeks away, Chebet will arrive as one of the star attractions.

Chebet was not the only athlete whose mark was ratified. Lithuania’s Mykolas Alekna, the Olympic silver medallist, saw both of his discus throws at the Oklahoma Throws Series on 13 April confirmed as world records.

He first threw 74.89m before extending the mark to 75.56m in the fourth round. The competition was historic, with five athletes over 70m, including Australia’s Matt Denny, who also bettered the previous world record.

In pole vault, Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis had his 13th world record confirmed after clearing 6.29m at the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting in Budapest on 12 August. It added one centimetre to his previous record of 6.28m.

With Chebet, Alekna, and Duplantis all heading to Tokyo next month, fans can expect another thrilling chapter of record-breaking performances on the world stage.