BARCELONA: Double Olym­pic champion Beatrice Chebet smashed the women’s 5km world record with a time of 13 minutes 54 seconds at the Cursa dels Nassos road race in Barce­lona on Tuesday as she finished a blockbuster year on a high.

The Kenyan beat her previous record — set a year ago to the day at the Barcelona race — by 19 seconds, becoming the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier in the event.

Chebet was all on her own as she sprinted through the race and embraced friends at the finish line after adding added ano­ther accolade to her name, having won the 5,000 and 10,000 metres at this year’s Games.

The 24-year-old enjoyed a nearly flawless year, breaking the 10,000m world record in Eugene in May before claiming her second Diamond League title in the 5,000m in September.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2025