Ethiopian runner Gudaf Tsegay broke the women’s 5,000-meter world record set by Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon in Paris at the Eugene Diamond League final.
According to Africa News, the 26-year-old ran 14 minutes, 00.21 seconds, shaving nearly five seconds off the previous 5,000-meter mark and about 12 seconds better than her personal best.
Kenyan sprinter Beatrice Chebet finished second in 14 minutes, 05.92 seconds, the third-fastest time ever, and Ethiopian Ejgayehu Taye finished third in 14 minutes, 21.52 seconds.
According to OkayAfrica, Tsegay expressed her dedication to beating her current record, saying, “My sole focus today is on breaking the world record.”
As reported by Thaiger, Tsegay recently suffered a setback and she finished 13th in the 5,000-meter race that Kipyegon won. After her victory, she revealed her future goals to complete in under 14 minutes. “I possess an insatiable hunger in my mind for that achievement,” she expressed.
The Eugene Diamond League finale is traditionally part of the Prefontaine Classic. According to Africa News, this year’s Prefontaine Classic, which usually takes place in late May, was the last stop on the worldwide Diamond League circuit.
Over the course of the two days of competition, 32 winners were crowned, each receiving $30,000. It is the final major international track and field meet before the participants begin preparing for the Olympics in Paris next summer.
