The sound of the bell marked an historic moment as Beatrice Chebet made her way to an unprecedented victory in the women’s 5,000-meter race at the Prefontaine Classic, held Saturday in Eugene, Oregon. Running dynamically ahead of Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, the current world-record holder, Chebet discovered an extra gear in the final stretch, ultimately crossing the finish line at a remarkable time of 13:58.06.
This stellar performance not only secured Chebet the victory but also etched her name in history as the first woman to complete the 5,000 meters in under 14 minutes. Her record-breaking achievement surpassed the previous world record of 14:00.21, which had been set by Tsegay in September 2023, also at Hayward Field. Until Chebet’s momentous run, only one other athlete had come within four seconds of this record.
🚨BEATRICE CHEBET BREAKS 14 MINUTES FOR A NEW 5000M WORLD RECORD!
📺: NBC & Peacock | #Pre50 pic.twitter.com/wpZxKh87ws
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 5, 2025
Prior to this historic victory, Chebet had previously demonstrated her exceptional talent by clocking a personal-best time of 14:03.69 in Rome a month prior, joining Tsegay as one of only two women to run the event in under 14:05. Notably, Chebet now possesses five of the top ten fastest times ever recorded in the women’s 5,000 meters.
Agnes Jebet Ngetich from Kenya also made headlines by finishing second in the event with an impressive time of 14:01.29, making her the third-fastest woman in history for the distance. Tsegay ultimately placed third with a time of 14:04.41.
Chebet’s exemplary performance was one of several highlights during a packed day at Hayward Field. In the women’s 400 meters, Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, known for her prowess in the 400-meter hurdles, emerged victorious with a personal season-best of 49.43 seconds—marking the sixth-fastest time in 2025. However, the event missed the presence of notable competitors, including world-leading athlete Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain and Olympic champion Marileidy Paulino from the Dominican Republic.
Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone cruises to victory in the 400m with a season’s best. ⭐️
📺: NBC & Peacock | #Pre50 pic.twitter.com/xzRJgKG2zH
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) July 5, 2025
After her race, McLaughlin-Levrone reflected on her performance, stating to NBC Sports’ Lewis Johnson, “Not my best work, honestly. Just happy to be back out after a month (off) of racing, shake out the dust a little bit. … A lot to work on, a lot to go and look back at. But, grateful for the win.”
In the men’s 100-meter race, Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson secured victory in a time of 9.85 seconds, outperforming Britain’s Zharnel Hughes and American Trayvon Bromell. Notably, Thompson was the only athlete in this event who had competed in the Olympic final, which was clinched by American Noah Lyles in a tightly contested race.
In the women’s long jump, American talent Tara Davis-Woodhall obtained a significant win, achieving a jump of 7.07 meters on her final attempt, edging out Germany’s Malaika Mihambo, who finished with 7.01 meters.
Rudy Winkler of the United States showcased an outstanding performance in the men’s hammer throw, establishing a national record and leading the world with a distance of 83.16 meters. Winkler had previously placed sixth in the hammer throw at the Paris Olympics.
(Photo: Ben Lonergan / The Register-Guard / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
