Beatrice Chebet made history at the Prefontaine Classic, becoming the first woman to complete the 10,000 meters in under 29 minutes.
Chebet’s remarkable time of 28:54.14 broke Letesenbet Gidey’s previous world record by nearly seven seconds, a feat that stunned the athletic community and set a new benchmark in women’s long-distance running.
The race, held at Hayward Field, was a non-Diamond League event and served as the Kenyan trials for the upcoming Paris 2024 Olympics. The competition featured a strong field, including Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, the reigning 10,000m world champion.
Tsegay stayed with Chebet for most of the race, ultimately finishing second with a personal best of 29:05.92, the third-fastest time ever recorded in the event. Lilian Rengeruk and Margaret Kipkemboi rounded out the top four, demonstrating the depth of talent in the race.
Chebet’s victory was a result of a well-executed strategy. She revealed that her plan was to pace herself with Tsegay and assess her body’s response before making her move in the final laps.
In the men’s 10,000 meters, Daniel Mateiko secured victory with a personal best time of 26:50.81, the fastest recorded this year. Mateiko’s performance narrowly edged out Nicholas Kimeli, while Bernard Kibet claimed third place, highlighting a competitive race among Kenya’s elite distance runners.
The Prefontaine Classic also featured notable performances in other events, with Mary Moraa and Sha’Carri Richardson among the star athletes showcasing their prowess.
