Kenya’s Kipyegon, Chebet smash World Records at Prefontaine Classic
Kenya’s middle- and long-distance queens, Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet, on Saturday, July 5, 2025 shattered world records in the 1,500m and 5,000m races, respectively at the Prefontaine Classic – a Wanda Diamond League meeting – in Eugene, Oregon.
Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic champion, set a new world record in the women’s 1,500m at the Prefontaine Classic, clocking 3 minutes, 48.68 seconds. She eclipsed her own previous record of 3:49.04, set last July ahead of the Paris Olympics.
Roared on by a packed Hayward Field, the 31-year-old stormed down the home stretch unchallenged, crossing the line before wrapping herself in the Kenyan flag. Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji finished second in 3:51.44, with Australia’s Jessica Hull claiming third.
“To be honest, the ladies are pushing me too because they are running fast now,” Kipyegon said after her historic run. “I’m happy that when I break a world record, they’re also running very fast. That’s what I wanted — to motivate the younger generation to come and do even better. It feels great that they’re also pushing me to break records.”
Just last month, Kipyegon narrowly missed becoming the first woman to run a sub-four-minute mile, clocking 4:06.42 at Stade Charléty in Paris — faster than her official world record of 4:07.64, though the time wasn’t ratified due to the unofficial status of the Nike-sponsored event.
Reflecting on her latest feat, Kipyegon said, “I was preparing for something special — to run under four minutes in the mile — and I think that made me stronger and better in the 1,500m. So I knew it was possible to go under 3:49.”
Kipyegon has now won the 1,500m at the last three World Championships and was the 5,000m silver medalist at the Paris Olympics.
Meanwhile, 25-year-old Beatrice Chebet etched her name in history by breaking the women’s 5,000m world record with a sensational time of 13:58.06 — more than two seconds faster than the previous record set by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay in Eugene two years ago.
Fellow Kenyan Agnes Jebet Ngetich finished second in 14:01.29, ahead of Tsegay, who placed third in 14:04.41.
Chebet, now the reigning world record holder and Olympic champion in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, said: “When I was coming here to Eugene, I was preparing to run a world record. I’m so happy.”
The Kenyan duo were among 17 Olympic champions and 14 world-record holders competing in the star-studded Prefontaine Classic, part of the prestigious Diamond League series.
President William Ruto congratulated the athletes on X (formerly Twitter).
We salute Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet for setting new world records in the women’s 1500m and 5000m events at the Prefontaine Classic.
Congratulations Ms Kipyegon for breaking your own record with a breathtaking and inspirational run.
Hats off to Ms Chebet for becoming… pic.twitter.com/fr3UHYESvl
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) July 6, 2025
The Diamond League now moves to Monaco, before heading to London for a sold-out meet on July 19. The season finale will take place in Zurich on August 27–28 — just two weeks before the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
(With input from the World Athletics)
