History unfolded at the Diamond League meet in Eugene as Kenya's Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon rewrote athletics history on Saturday. The duo demolished world records in the women's 5000m and 1500m events respectively, electrifying the global sports community.
Chebet, a double Olympic champion, achieved what many considered impossible by becoming the first woman to complete 5000 meters in under 14 minutes. Her blistering 13:58.06 finish shattered Ethiopian runner Gudaf Tsegay's previous record by 2.15 seconds. The race saw fierce competition with Tsegay and fellow Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich challenging early before Chebet's decisive final-lap surge.
'I knew after my Rome performance that this record was within reach,' Chebet told reporters, referencing her 14:03.69 run earlier this season. 'When I heard Faith was attempting her own record here, I thought – why not make it a Kenyan double?'
While full details of Kipyegon's 1500m triumph remain emerging, preliminary reports confirm the two-time Olympic gold medalist has extended her dominance in middle-distance running. The historic achievements underscore East Africa's growing influence in global athletics.
