NAIROBI, Kenya – It was a historic night in Eugene, Oregon, and the stars lighting up the track were proudly Kenyan.
Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon stunned the world with record-shattering performances that are already being hailed as the defining moments of the 2025 athletics season.
In back-to-back dominance, the two Kenyan queens not only rewrote the record books—they did it with style, power, and heart.
Chebet, just 25, became the first woman in history to run the 5,000 metres in under 14 minutes, blazing across the finish line in a jaw-dropping 13:58.06.
The Olympic champion from Paris last year, Chebet’s performance cements her status as the new face of long-distance running.
“When I ran 14:03 in Rome, I knew I was capable of something bigger,” she said. “I came to Eugene with one goal—to make history. If Faith could chase records, why not me?”
The race looked like it might slip away from record pace with a few laps to go, but Chebet pulled off a furious final lap to leave the previous record holder, Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, trailing. Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Ngetich, another rising star, claimed second in 14:01.29, making it a Kenyan 1-2 punch on the global stage.
Tsegay settled for third in 14:04.41—on the very same Hayward Field where she set the now-broken record last September.
Moments earlier, Kenya’s greatest middle-distance runner, Faith Kipyegon, stormed to a new world record in the 1,500 metres, clocking 3:48.68. That’s a full 0.36 seconds faster than the mark she set herself in 2024.
“This was really special,” the three-time Olympic champion said. “After my attempt at breaking the mile record in Paris, I knew I still had more in me. I had to go for it.”
Kenya’s dominance in distance running was the heartbeat of the Diamond League meet, but it wasn’t the only Kenyan highlight.
In the men’s 5,000m and other endurance events, Kenyan athletes continued to demonstrate depth and consistency, with strong showings across categories. And as the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo (Sept 13–21) approach, the momentum couldn’t be better.
President William Ruto, Athletics Kenya, and fans from Eldoret to Nairobi posted congratulatory messages, praising the athletes for flying the flag high.
Outside of the Kenyan camp, the meet featured big wins from Jamaican sprinter Kishane Thompson in the men’s 100m (9.85), American Melissa Jefferson-Wooden in the women’s 100m (10.75), and Mondo Duplantis in the pole vault (6.00m), among others.
But make no mistake—this was Kenya’s night.
With Chebet’s groundbreaking sub-14 and Kipyegon’s continued reign as the queen of 1,500m, Kenyan athletes have not only made history—they’ve inspired a nation.