Kenyan clocks 28:54.14 at the Pre Classic in Eugene to break Letesenbet Gideys 29:01.03

Seventy years ago Emil Zatopek ran 28:54.2 to set a mens world 10,000m record in Brussels. At the time it seemed  impossible for women to get anywhere close to a mark like this and it would be more than 30 years before women could run the distance at major championships.

In the early years of womens 10,000m records being recognised by World Athletics, Mary Decker ran 31:35.3 in Eugene, Oregon, in 1982. Such are the advances in female distance running, though, Beatrice Chebet became the first woman to break the 29-minute barrier on Saturday (May 25) in the same Oregon town as she ran 28:54.14 more or less the same time Zatopek achieved 70 years earlier.

The 24-year-old from Kenya ran seven seconds faster than Ethiopias Letesenbet Gideys previous world record of 29:01.03, which was set in 2021. The race was billed as a world record attempt by Gudaf Tsegay although the Ethiopian finished runner-up in 29:05.92 to go No.3 on the world all-time rankings.

Tsegay and Chebet stayed within a stride of the Wavelight Technology marking world record pace throughout the race with Tsegay doing most of the work and leading through halfway in 14:31.08 until Chebet, the two-time world cross-country champion, surged clear with three laps remaining.

With two laps to go Chebet pulled slightly ahead of the lights and finished strongly to enter the history books.

With the event also doubling as the Kenyan trials for the Olympics, Lilian Rengeruk was third in 29:26.89 and Margaret Kipkemboi fourth in 29:27.59.

For Paris, Im going to double, said Chebet. But my target is to run 5000m first, then 10,000m comes second. Because this is my first 10,000m outside the country to run, and Im so happy to run 28 minutes and a world record.

The last lap just motivated me, especially when Gudaf dropped. Then I realised Oh, I am the best, so I can go. I just want to thank my management, my coach and everyone at home for their great support. I did very well because I see my body was responding good.

I say because Gudaf requested a world record, let me go with her and see how my body responded, and the body responded well then I decided to go.

In the mens 10,000m, which was also the Kenyan Olympic trial, Daniel Mateiko won in 26:50.81 ahead of Nicholas Kipkorir, who ran 26:50.94.