EUGENE, OREGON — On a weekend that will go down as one of the most electrifying in track and field history, Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon tore through the limits of long-distance running with record-shattering performances at the 2025 Prefontaine Classic. Like a well-rehearsed double act, Chebet and Kipyegon didn’t just compete, they redefined what it means to be elite in women’s athletics. Between them, they broke two world records, two psychological barriers, and likely a few stopwatches.
Beatrice Chebet opened the show with an astonishing 13:58.06 in the 5,000 meters, becoming the first woman to ever break the 14-minute barrier on the track. Her time erased Gudaf Tsegay’s previous world record of 14:00.21 and carved Chebet’s name into one of the sport’s most exclusive clubs. It was a poetic continuation of her 2024 heroics, when she became the first woman to run under 29 minutes in the 10,000m with a 28:54.14. With these twin feats, Chebet now holds both world records and Olympic titles in the 5,000m and 10,000m, a distinction shared only with the great Tirunesh Dibaba.
Not to be outdone, Faith Kipyegon arrived with calm confidence, the kind you’d expect from someone who’s broken world records for fun in the last three years. She did it again in the 1500m, clocking 3:48.68 and further lowering her own mark. Just a week after narrowly missing the 4-minute mile, many expected her to be shaken. Instead, Kipyegon bounced back the only way she knows how, by blazing to the front and rewriting the record books. The way she punched the air at the finish said it all: resilience, redemption, and relentless pursuit of greatness.
Beyond the numbers, what made the weekend unforgettable was the palpable camaraderie and shared glory between Chebet and Kipyegon. They didn’t just dominate their races, they celebrated each other like sisters in a relay of legacy. It was a masterclass in excellence, a reminder that when Kenyan women run, the world watches, times change, and history bends just a little more in their favor.
With Chebet only 25 and Kipyegon still flying like time is allergic to her spikes, it’s safe to say the age of Kenyan queens is not just here, it’s breaking the day. And for the rest of the world? Better lace up. The bar has just been reset. Twice.
