‘It means a lot for me’ – Beatrice Chebet ecstatic after breaking world record 

Beatrice Chebet has said breaking the world record during the women’s five-kilometre race at the Cursa dels Nassos, a World Athletics Label road race, in Barcelona means a lot to her.

The world champion managed to improve on the previous women-only world record of 14:29 that was set by Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi in Herzogenaurach on September 12, 2021.

The 23-year-old's performance was also faster than the women’s world record set in a mixed race of 14:19, achieved by Ethiopia’s Ejegayehu Taye at the 2021 Cursa dels Nassos.

Chebet now says the new record means the world to her.

"I came to Barcelona determined to better the world record, as I felt capable of that. This world record means a lot for me; I can't believe it," Chebet told World Athletics.

Meanwhile, Taye, who came in second, finished her race in 14:21, beating Kenya’s Lilian Kasait Rengeruk, who finished third in 14:26.

Tight race at the beginning

The top three were all 5km medallists at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga in October and dipped under the previous women-only world record mark. Despite finishing fourth in 14:28, Uganda's Joy Cheptoyek was also inside that mark.

Medina Eisa of Ethiopia also made history as her 14:40 finish was the fastest-ever women’s 5km by an U20 athlete.

Chebet and her rivals were within the range to break the record when they went past the first kilometre in 2:49. They were able to keep the pace over the subsequent kilometre as they went through the second one in 5:38.

Eisa started losing ground before the halfway mark, but Chebet, Rengeruk, and Taye reached the 3 kilometre point in 8:38 for a 3:00 split, while Cheptoyek ran a couple of seconds behind the rivals.

Chebet and Taye shared the lead over the penultimate kilometre and took turns as they both aimed at breaking the standing record.

They hit the 4km mark in 11:36, but at this time Rengeruk could not maintain that speed, and the race became a battle between Chebet and Taye.

As the race progressed towards the final mark, Chebet increased her pace, and Taye struggled to adapt. There was a sizeable gap between the duo, and Chebet was on course for a new record with 500 metres remaining with the clock reading 12:51.

Chebet shines

The Kenyan reached the finish line unopposed when she stopped the clock at 14:13 as Taye came in second.

The final podium place was grabbed by Rengeruk, who completed a lifetime best of 14:26, finishing ahead of Cheptoyek, whose 14:28 bettered the Ugandan record of 14:50 she set in Riga, Latvia, where she was sixth.

Katie Snowden of Britain was seventh on her debut over the 5km race, while Esther Guerrero of Spain came in eighth at 15:45.