Beatrice Chebet is rewriting history at just 25. She became the first woman to break the 29-minute mark in the 10,000m, clocking a time of 28:54.14 at the 2024 Prefontaine Classic. This was also her first time at 10,000m outside of Kenya. Apart from that, she has a win in the double-distance Olympic gold medal at the same Games. And this year, Chebet opened her season by winning the Women’s 5000m race at the Xiamen Diamond League.
The reigning world record holder and back-to-back Diamond League champion has no plans of stopping, and even after narrowly missing against Gudaf Tsegay at the Rome Diamond League, she still has her eyes on the prize. She might not have defeated the world record holder, but she crossed her rival Faith Kipyegon and broke her two-year record.
Recently, she just came close to breaking the women’s 5000 meters world record at the Rome Diamond League when she clocked 14:03.69, which was just 2.5 seconds less than Gudaf Tsegay’s 1997 world mark of 14:00.21. Did this give her the push she needed for a world record attempt? Absolutely. After the race concluded, she explained her mindset for the future.
While speaking to Citius Mag on June 6th, just after finishing the race, she said, “Like I said yesterday, I am going to run my world record because I am feeling the body is in good shape, so I have to try to see how far I can go when I push a lot. You see the best mega drop after 2000, so I say let me push and see what I am capable of. Because our target was 14.15, but I ran a 14.05, a personal best, and I am so impressed. So I see the world record is capable and I am going to plan for it.”
“Soon I am going for it.” – Beatrice Chebet
The 14:00.21 world record by Gudaf Tsegay and the 14-minute barrier are on notice.
The Olympic champion has spoken.
via Diamond League AG
FULL INTERVIEW: https://t.co/HEA2X2iOv4 pic.twitter.com/6WQqX04H1V
— CITIUS MAG (@CitiusMag) June 6, 2025
The Kenyan ran against the current record holder, Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia. She also had Italy’s 10,000m Olympic medalist Nadia Battocletti in tow. Chebet followed pretty close as the pacemakers ran right on the decided meeting record (14:12.59) pace. They reached 1000m in 2:50.06 and 2000m in 5:41.45. She then had a breakaway group at 3000m and crossed in 8:32.20. Chebet increased pace with four laps to go, running 2:46 for the 4th kilometer and 2:44 for the 5th one.
The host asked, “You were very, very close to running sub-144, so is it something in your mind?” She replied confidently, “Yes very soon, and I am going for it soon, not very far soon. I am going for it because after running 3000 and coming here and running 14.05, and yet I plan for 14.15, and see I am capable, the body is moving, so I just go back home and prepare for it.”
She also expressed how she helps her opponents: “Yeah, I meant everyone because I have done the best mega drop. I was the one who was going. I push after the best mega drop. I push so I can say I help them a lot to achieve their personal best and their national record. Like Nadia, I am so happy to see everyone is achieving their best performance today in Europe.”
Chebet won the race by more than 15 seconds. Freweyni Hailu, who is the two-time world indoor champion, finished second in a PB of 14:19.33. Nadia Battocletti made her home crowd cheer with a record of 14:23.15 for 3rd place. Meanwhile, before Chebet breaks the ultimate record, let’s look back at her season performance so far.
Beatrice Chebet’s 2025 season till now
Her rise to the pinnacle of distance running did not happen by chance. Her grandmother was the one who saw that spark in her. She revealed the story while speaking to Nation Africa in an interview back in August 2023. One of their neighbors had noticed the 16-year-old’s immense talent and revealed it to her grandmother. She immediately contacted Coach Paul Kemei of the Lemotit Athletic Club.
“I was more than ready to take up athletics as long as she supported me,” Chebet narrated in the interview with Nation Africa. After that, there was no looking back. At present, the icon, who was also an employee under the Kenya police, kicked off her 2025 season with a major win at the Xiamen Diamond League.
She then missed the women’s 5000m world record by three seconds but managed to become the 2nd fastest in women’s 5000m in history at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea. Do you think she can beat Gudaf Tsegay’s record?
The post Breaking Faith Kipyegon’s 2-Year-Old Record, Beatrice Chebet Makes Feelings Clear on Future Plans appeared first on EssentiallySports.