Chebet & Kipyegon break world records in Eugene
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Kenya’s Chebet and Kipyegon Smash World Records at Eugene Diamond League
Historic Night in Oregon for Kenyan Stars
It was a monumental night at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, as Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet lit up the track with two breathtaking world records. The event, which also served as a Diamond League meeting, welcomed some of the most elite athletes on the planet. But it was the Kenyan duo who stole the spotlight, reminding the world why they are among the greatest long-distance runners of all time. With Paris Olympic champions and world record holders in attendance, Chebet and Kipyegon’s performances etched their names even deeper into athletic history.
Faith Kipyegon Breaks Her Own 1500m World Record
Faith Kipyegon, 31, once again proved she is unrivaled in the women’s 1500 metres, clocking a jaw-dropping 3:48.68. This time beat her own previous world record by 0.36 seconds. Known for her tactical intelligence and explosive finishing speed, Kipyegon dominated the race from the gun, leaving no room for competition. The win comes just over a week after she missed her goal of breaking the four-minute mile barrier, which would have made her the first woman in history to do so. Nonetheless, her Eugene performance reasserts her reign in middle-distance running and sets the tone ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Beatrice Chebet Shatters 5,000m Record
While Kipyegon mesmerized in the 1500m, her compatriot Beatrice Chebet, 25, took things to another level in the 5,000m event. Chebet ran a sensational 13:58.06, slicing more than two seconds off the previous record held by Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, set at the same venue in 2022. With this feat, Chebet now holds the world records and Olympic titles in both the 5,000m and 10,000m, placing her among the most dominant athletes in women’s long-distance running. Speaking after her historic race, she said, “When I was coming here to Eugene, I was coming to prepare to run a world record. I’m so happy.”
Global Stars Shine on a Packed Track
The Eugene meet wasn’t only about the Kenyans. The stadium was brimming with talent as 17 individual Paris Olympic champions and 14 world-record holders took part. In the men’s 400m, Britain’s Matt Hudson-Smith delivered a standout performance, clocking a season’s best 44.10 to defeat Americans Christopher Bailey and Jacory Patterson. It was a moment of redemption for Hudson-Smith, who has battled injury setbacks and inconsistency this season.
Mixed Night for British Athletes
Britain’s Zharnel Hughes finished second in the men’s 100m, running 9.91, just behind Jamaican Olympic silver medallist Kishane Thompson who posted 9.85. In the women’s 800m, Jemma Reekie equaled her season’s best of 1:58.66 but placed seventh. Notably absent was Keely Hodgkinson, who continues to recover from a hamstring injury. The women’s race was won by Ethiopia’s Tsige Duguma in 1:57.10.
Other Highlights from the Star-Studded Meet
In the women’s 100m, American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden surged to victory in 10.75, ahead of Olympic gold medallist Julien Alfred, while Britain’s Dina Asher-Smith finished seventh. In the Bowerman Mile, Dutch sensation Niels Laros pulled off a thrilling win, overtaking American Yared Nuguse in the final strides to win by just 0.01 seconds. Sweden’s pole vault king Armand Duplantis cleared 6.00m to claim victory once again, while American star Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone matched her season’s best of 49.43 to dominate the 400m hurdles.
Diamond League Heats Up Ahead of Tokyo
The Diamond League now moves to Monaco, followed by the sold-out London Athletics Meet on July 19. The series will culminate with finals in Zurich on August 27 and 28, just two weeks before the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. With records already falling, all eyes will be on the next stops to see if the world’s fastest and strongest can continue rewriting history.
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