Kenyans Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon smash world records in Eugene

© Copyright – 2025 – Athletics Illustrated

The 2025 Prefontaine Classic at Eugene, Oregon’s Hayward Field, was the stuff of legend.

Kenyans Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon delivered stunning world-record performances during their respective events, the 5000 metres and 1500 metres.

Beatrice Chebet

Chebet became the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier in the 5000m. While she had run sub-14 on the roads in Barcelona in December 2024 with a result of 13:54, this is the first time that the barrier has been bettered on the track.

Chebet stopped the clock at 13:58.06. The record was 14:00.21 as set by Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay on the same track during the 2023 Diamond League Final.

“I’m so happy. After running 14:03 in Rome, I said I’m capable of a world record. When I came to Eugene, I came prepared. If Faith is trying, why not me? I’m proud to be the first woman under 14 minutes,” said Chebet.

The race had two fields. The front three and everyone else. Along for the ride were Agnes Jebet Ngetich and Tsegay.

They ran together for most of the race, but it was during the final lap that Chebet turned on the afterburners and dropped the other two as if they were children playing in the park. Fellow Kenyan Ngetich clocked faster than Tsegay’s former world record with her 14:01.29 performance for second place. Tsegay, completely lost her mojo over the final 200 metres rolled in at 14:04.41 on the clock. For all three it they ran jaw-dropping performances.

Chebet crossed the line with the disposition that she had just jogged easily for a few kilometres.

She set the 10,000m world record and first-ever sub-29 for a woman at the same meet last year when she ran 28:54.14.

Faith Kipyegon

Faith Kipyegon was coming off the failed Breaking4 event organized by Nike. It was a meaningless time trial to experiment to see if Kipyegon could become the first woman to run sub-4 in the mile (1609m).

Saturday, in Eugene, she looked more composed, relaxed and was smiling on the start line. This was the Kipyegon everyone was familiar with, not the stressed and tight version a week prior.

Kipyegon busted out to the front of the field, following only the pacer. Immediately, it was clear that she was ready to deliver something special, but on her tail were Australians Jessica Hull and Ethiopian Diribe Welteji.

Similarly to the 5000m race, the trio of Kipyegon, Hull, and Welteji hung around through three laps, until Hull went anaerobic and drifted, and Welteji lumbered by. At the front, Kipyegon was gone as if she was going to break the four-minute mile after all — and earn a big payday. Except, she became the first under 3:49 in the metric mile, bettering her own world record with a finish of 3:48.68.

Welteji ran in for a new personal best of 3:51.44, and Hull took third in 3:52.67.

Results

1500m Women

5000m Women’s

Full meet results:

WOMEN’S RESULTS

100m Women | Wind:-1.5

100m Women Invitational | Wind Wind:+1.7

400m Women

800m Women

1500m Women

5000m Women’s

100m Hurdles Women | Wind Wind:+0.4

3000m Steeplechase Women

Shot Put Women

Discus Throw Women

Hammer Throw Women

MEN’S RESULTS

100m Men | Wind +0.8

200m Men | Wind:+0.7

400m Men

Bowerman Mile Men

Mile Invitational Men

10000m Men

400m Hurdles Men

Pole Vault Men

Shot Put Men

Discus Throw Men

Hammer Throw Men