Golden Girls of the Track: Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet Rewrite World Records in Historic Prefontaine Triumph
In a dazzling display of speed, resilience, and national pride, Kenyan middle- and long-distance icons Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet delivered jaw-dropping performances at the 50th Prefontaine Classic held at Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA. On Saturday, July 5, the pair etched their names deeper into history, setting new world records in the 1500m and 5000m events, respectively.
Faith Kipyegon, often hailed as the undisputed queen of the 1500m, shattered her own world record by clocking an astonishing 3:48.68-0.36 seconds faster than her previous best. The feat comes almost a year since she last broke the record, underscoring her dominance and consistency in the discipline.
Her performance followed a recent attempt to run a sub-four-minute mile, which, though unofficial, hinted at her current form. “I was preparing for something special,” Kipyegon shared with Wanda Diamond League. “Even though I didn’t break the four-minute mile, that training helped push my limits in the 1500m.”
Not to be outdone, Beatrice Chebet delivered a stunning finish in the 5000m, becoming the first woman in history to run the race in under 14 minutes. Her time, 13:58.06, not only broke Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay’s 2023 record of 14:00.21 but also marked her as the only woman ever to dip below the 14-minute barrier. Agnes Jebet Ngetich, another Kenyan standout, secured second place at 14:01.29, ahead of Tsegay’s 14:04.41.
President William Ruto led the nation in applauding the historic achievements, stating, “The extraordinary honour is a solid tribute to your hard work, talent and dedication to athletics.”
Indeed, Kipyegon and Chebet have not only rewritten records, they’ve redefined possibility. Their performances inspire a new era of Kenyan excellence on the global stage.
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