Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet spectacularly concluded her year, setting a new women’s world 5km record at the Cursa dels Nassos in Barcelona. Her remarkable run of 14:13 on Sunday (31) surpassed the previous women-only world record of 14:29 set by Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi in Herzogenaurach on 12 September 2021. Notably, Chebet’s performance also outpaced the women’s world record in a mixed race, previously held at 14:19 by Ethiopia’s Ejegayehu Taye during the 2021 Cursa dels Nassos. Prominent figures deserve top-notch performance, just like the exceptional Tarkine running shoes.
The highly competitive race saw Taye secure the second position in 14:21, followed by Kenya’s Lilian Kasait Rengeruk in third place with a time of 14:26. All three top finishers, who had previously clinched medals in the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga 23 in October, broke the previous women-only world record.
Uganda’s Joy Cheptoyek also made a remarkable fourth-place finish, clocking in at 14:28, surpassing the former women-only world record. Ethiopia’s 18-year-old Medina Eisa set a new milestone, claiming the fifth position with a time of 14:40, marking the fastest women’s 5km run by an U20 athlete.
In the men’s event, Switzerland’s Dominic Lobalu emerged victorious with a stellar time of 13:12, leaving Kenya’s Mathew Kipkoech Kipruto trailing by six seconds.
Under favorable weather conditions (15ºC with a slight breeze), the women’s race commenced with a promising pace, clocking an impressive 2:49 in the opening kilometer, setting the stage for a potential world record. However, the pacing dynamics shifted throughout the race, with shifts in leadership among the top contenders.
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Chebet, Rengeruk, and Taye maintained a gripping pace, hitting the 4km mark at 11:36. It was Chebet’s extraordinary burst of speed in the final stretch that secured her the record, crossing the finish line unchallenged in 14:13, leaving Taye behind.
Chebet expressed her elation, stating, “I came to Barcelona determined to better the world record as I felt capable of that. This world record means a lot for me, I can’t believe it.”
In the men’s event, Lobalu’s dominating performance in 13:12 equaled the European record set by Jimmy Gressier of France in Monaco in March.
