Athletics: Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet destroys own women’s 5km world record in Barcelona

Kenyan distance-running star Beatrice Chebet ended 2024 on a high as she smashed her own 5km road world record in Barcelona on Tuesday (31 December).

The double Olympic champion from Paris 2024 set the previous best of 14:13 exactly 12 months ago in the Cursa dels Nassos race. This time, she clocked 13:54 to become the first woman to break 14 minutes for the distance on the track or the road.

Starting at the same time as the men, Chebet crossed the line in 14th place overall. She was just 26 seconds behind men’s winner, fellow Kenyan Matthew Kipkoech.

Women’s runner-up, 19-year-old Ethiopian Medina Eisa, broke the U20 world record with a time of 14:23.

It caps a year to remember for Chebet who broke the 10,000m world record at May’s Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.

In Paris, she stunned reigning world champion Faith Kipyegon in the 5000m before completing the long-distance double in the 10,000m.