Faith Kipyegon, after breaking the women's 1500m record/HANDOUT
World record holders Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon have highlighted that greatness inspires greatness after both Kenyan stars shattered global marks in their respective events at the Eugene Diamond League on Saturday night at Hayward Field.
In a historic evening of distance running, Chebet rewrote the women’s 5,000m record books by storming to a 13:58.06 finish, becoming the first woman in history to dip under the 14-minute barrier.
Chebet obliterated the previous world best of 14:00.21 set by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay in 2023 on the same track.
She led a world-class field home ahead of compatriot Agnes Ngetich (14:01.29) and Tsegay (14:04.41), delivering a resounding statement in a race that also served as Kenya’s World Championships trial.
The 24-year-old now holds two world records, having already stunned the athletics world last year at the same venue with a 10,000m mark of 28:54.14, becoming the first woman to run under 29 minutes.
Chebet credited her explosive performance to inspiration drawn from her close friend and fellow record-breaker Kipyegon. "When I was coming here to Eugene, I was coming to prepare to run a world record and I said I have to try."
"I told myself if Faith is trying, why not me? And today, I'm so happy because I've achieved being the first woman to run under 14. I'm so happy for myself," Chebet said post-race.
After narrowly missing the record at the Rome Diamond League on June 6, where she clocked a then-world-leading 14:03.69, Chebet had vowed to go all out in Eugene.
"I'm so happy. After running in Rome, I said I have to prepare for a record because in Rome I was just running to win a race, but after running 14:03, I said that I'm capable of running a world record," she said.
Chebet, who has become a dominant force in the long-distance scene, attributed her success to relentless discipline.
"Discipline and hard work are the secret. My coach and husband have been there assisting me in everything I'm doing in training and supporting me, and Faith has been a close friend to me."
While Chebet was making history in the 5,000m, Kipyegon once again stamped her authority as the undisputed queen of the 1,500m, slicing nearly a second off her world record to post an astonishing 3:48.68.
Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji (3:51.44) and Australia’s Jessica Hull (3:52.67) settled for second and third respectively.
Kipyegon revealed they shared a pep talk with Chebet before their respective events, exchanging words of belief and bold ambition.
"Beatrice is my best friend, and we train together sometimes in Eldoret. I am so happy she made history today. We met before the race, and I told her we have to believe in ourselves and dare to dream," Kipyegon said.
She noted that the two athletes inspire each other to achieve more in their respective disciplines.
"Beatrice ran so fast today, she is the first woman to run under 14 minutes. We inspire each other. Her running under 14 minutes inspired me, and I also want to inspire others to run under 3:48."
After her dramatic Breaking4 attempt in the mile in Paris on June 26, Kipyegon said she knew a sub-3:49 was well within reach.
"I think the changes were that I was preparing myself for something special, which was to run under four minutes in a mile, and I think I pushed myself, getting better and better toward the 1500, so I knew it was possible to still run under 3:49."
"This is the time I was expecting when I was in Paris, I say that it's still possible to run under 3:49, and I'm just so grateful. I thank God, I thank my management, I thank my coach and all of the support system who have been supporting me through this journey, so it feels amazing."
Athletics Kenya’s chair of Youth Development, Barnaba Korir, hailed the Kenyan duo as well as other top Kenyan athletes for their display in Eugene.
"I take this opportunity on behalf of the AK president and the executive to congratulate our great athletes and to thank the team management for the work they have done in the performance today....it surpassed our imagination."
