Beatrice Chebet Sets Historic Sub-29 Minute 10,000m Record at Prefontaine Classic

On Saturday, May 25, at the Prefontaine Classic, Beatrice Chebet from Kenya made history as the first woman to ever run the 10,000 meters in under 29 minutes, clocking a staggering 28:54.14. This impressive performance smashed the previous world record of 29:01.03 set by Ethiopia's Letesenbet Gidey in 2021. Previously, Kenyan national record of 29:32.53, was established by Vivian Cheruiyot during the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Despite her historic achievement, Chebet revealed that setting a world record was not her initial intent. "I did not plan for it," she explained, attributing her decision to chase the record to the pace set by her rival, Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay. "Gudaf wanted a world record, so I thought I’d go along and see how my body felt. It responded well, so I pushed ahead."

After the race, Chebet and Tsegay, who are friendly competitors, shared a warm embrace. "She congratulated me, telling me, 'You are the best, you are strong,'" Chebet recounted.

The event also served as the Athletics Kenya Olympic qualifier for the upcoming Paris Summer Games. With her victory, Chebet not only secured her spot on the Kenyan team but also demonstrated her formidable talent in her first 10,000-meter race since 2020.

Prefontaine Classic 2024 Results

Women's 10000m Results

Men’s 10000 metres: 

Daniel Mateiko won the Kenyan Trials race for the Olympic Games setting a world lead of 26:50.81. Nicholas Kipkorir and Benard Korir improved their PBs to 26:50.94 and 26:51.09. Three more men dipped under the 27 minutes barrier: Edwin Kurgat (26:51.54), Benson Kiplagat (26:55.09) and Kibiwott Kandie (26:58.97).  

Bowerman Mile: 

World 1500 metres champion Josh Kerr from Great Britain stormed to win in the Bowerman Mile setting a national record of 3:45.34. Kerr won an exciting head-to-head battle with Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen, who set the second fastest time in his career with 3:45.60. Yared Nuguse placed third in 3:46.22 ahead of Neil Gourley and Jake Wightman, who improved their PB to 3:47.74 and 3:47.83. 

Josh Kerr: “I wanted to win. I was not focused on the time and trying to find comfort in the first 800 metres. I was able to find that and then press through the field with 600 metres to go. You need to take the lead at some point in the race to go out and win it. It’s early in the season and everyone is not trusting their instincts yet”

Men’s shot put: 

Last year’s Diamond League champion Joe Kovacs threw 23.13m in the final round to win the men’s shot put. Kovacs missed his PB by just 10 cm and improved Leonardo Fabbri’s world seasonal lead. Payton Otterdahl took second place with 22.16m beating Chukwuebuka Enekwechi, who improved the national record to 21.91m. 

Joe Kovacs: “I think there is a lot more in the tank, but we were really preparing for the Olympic Trials. I am trying to make sure my minimum level is super high. I am a little bit more conservative in the technique right now because I want to make sure that no matter what, I am throwing far. It’s all Ashley. She is the boss at home as my wife when we get to the track. I would not be here without her. I would not be enjoying it without her”. 

Women’s 1500 metres: 

Diribe Welteji won the women’s 1500 metres improving her PB to 3:53.75. Welteji moved to 11th in the world all-time list. Jessica Hull from Australia finished second improving the Oceanian record to 3:55.97. World indoor 3000m champion Elle St. Pierre placed third in a lifetime best of 3:56.00. Laura Muir started her season with a fourth place in 3:56.35. Nilli Hiltz and Emily Mackay dipped under the 4 minutes barrier clocking 3:59.64 and 3:59.76 respectively. 

Diribe Welteji: “I have been waiting for this race for a long time. I was just hoping to run a good time, but I am really happy with how the race turned out. Training has just been going much better recently”. 

Women’s 800 metres: 

European champion Keely Hodgkinson set a world lead of 1:55.78 to win the women’s 800 metres. Hodgkinson ran the third fastest time of her career on the track where she broke the British record of 1:55.19 at last year’s edition of the Diamond League final. 

Keely Hodgkinson: “I knew I was in this kind of shape coming into it, but it doesn’t really matter when you are racing these girls. It’s all about what they are going to do. I just learned to enjoy it. I think that’s a big part of it and I just can’t wait to keep coming out here, producing good times, producing good races and just being consistent. The final in Paris is going to be insane. I just hope to be part of it and really challenge for the top place”. 

World champion Mary Moraa from Kenya took second place setting a seasonal best of 1:56.71. Jemma Reekie crossed the finish-line in 1:57.45 ahead of Nia Akins (1:57.98) and Uganda’s Halimah Naakayi (1:58.18). 

Women’s 3000 metres steeplechase: 

Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai improved the national record and the world lead to 8:55.09 moving to sixth in the all-time list. World record holder Beatrice Chepkoech also dipped under 9 minutes with 8:56.51. Faith Cherotich from Kenya finished third in 9:04.45 ahead of Sembo Almayew from Ethiopia (9:07.26). 

Women’s 5000 metres: 

Tsigie Gebrselama from Ethiopia won an exciting head-to-head battle with Ejgayehu Taye in the final straight setting a world lead of 14:18.76. 

Taye broke the 14:20 barrier to finish second in 14:18.92. Freweyni Hailu took third place in a lifetime best of 14:20.61. Aynadis Mebratu crossed the finish-line in 14:22.76. Birke Haylom broke the world under 20 record with 14:23.71. 

Women’s 100 metres: 

World champion Sha’Carri Richardson stormed to win in the women’s 100 metres in a seasonal best of 10.83 ahead of world indoor 60 metres Julien Alfred from Santa Lucia (10.93), 2019 world 200m champion Dina Asher Smith (10.98) and Daryl Neita (11.00).

Sha’Carri Richardson: “It’s always magical to compete here. I don’t have to travel too far. I enjoy doming to Hayward Field. I just continue to prepare for the Olympic Trials in the way I have been preparing like another race. We have been preparing since last autumn”. 

Men’s 110 metres hurdles: 

Three-time world champion Grant Holloway won the men’s 110 metres hurdles in a world lead of 13.03. Daniel Roberts finished second in 13.13 following his wins in Xiamen and Suzhou. 

Grant Holloway: “It’s definitely a building block but I think I could be better. Going forward. I just want to continue just to build off of that. The race was a little bit sloppy. It’s still the end of May. The key is to stay consistent. Throughout the years I have been running high 12.9, low 13.03. I think that’s what it takes. On any given day, it could be faster, it could be slower, but I just want to continue to go out there with an attitude and we will see whatever that falls into”.  

Women’s 100 metres hurdles: 

World indoor bronze medallist Cyrena Samba Mayela won a very close 100 metres hurdles race equalling the French record with 12.52 into a headwind of -0.9 m/s. Samba Mayela edged Olympic champion Jasmine Camacho Quinn from Puerto Rico (12.54) and Tonea Marshall (12.55). World indoor champion and record holder Devynne Charlton from Bahamas took fourth place in 12.63. 

Cyrena Samba Mayela: “I did not really have any set goals except winning that is always in the back of every athlete’s mind. I just wanted to execute everything that I am doing in training and getting ready for the Olympics. I know that I will meet those girls again, so getting used to it and execute the best way possible”. 

Men’s 200 metres: 

Olympic silver medallist Kenny Bednarek won his second consecutive Diamond League race of the season in the men’s 200 metres in 19.89 with a tailwind of +1.8 m/s. Courtney Lindsey took second place in 20.09 ahead of Kyree King (20.15) and Joseph Fahnbulleh (20.16).  

Kenny Bednarek: “My goal is just to come out and compete and win. That’s what I did. I am happy with this performance because the weather is pretty cold. So I wasn’t really worried about the times. I ended up stumbling in the beginning of the race. So I just collected myself and got the job done. Just making sure I just stayed focused and relaxed and then everything will come forward, not trying to put too much pressure on me and just relaxing. The times will come. Could be 20.00 that wins the race, I don’t care. As long as I am going through the finish line  first, that’s what matters”

Men’s 100 metres: 

World indoor champion Christian Coleman won the men’s 100 metres breaking the 10 seconds barrier for the first time this season with 9.95. Coleman won for the second consecutive year in Eugene after claiming first place at last September’s Diamond League Final. African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala placed second, also dipping under the 10 seconds barrier with 9.98. Brandon Hicklin, who improved his PB to 9.94 earlier this year, took third place in 10.08 ahead of Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake (10.12). 

Christian Coleman: “I feel good. I feel like I am in the best shape I have ever been in. I feel like it’s just mentally  putting  

Women’s discus throw: 

Last year’s Diamond Trophy winner Valarie Allman won the women’s discus throw for the third consecutive year at the Prefontaine Classic with 67.36m. 

Women’s hammer throw: 

World champion Camryn Rogers won the women’s hammer throw setting a meeting and a Diamond League record and a seasonal best of 77.76m. DeAnna Price, world champion in Doha 2019, took second place with 76.74m ahead of 2022 world gold medallist Brooke Andersen (76.34m). 

Camryn Rogers: “I am super excited. It’s a dream for hammer throwers to compete in the Diamond League. It’s incredible to host at Prefontaine Classic”. 

Women’s triple jump: 

Leyanis Perez Hernandez took the win in the women’s triple jump with 14.73m in the first round. World indoor champion Thea Lafond took second place with 14.62m ahead of world silver medallist Shanieka Ricketts from Jamaica (14.55m). 

Women’s pole vault: 

Emily Grove cleared a seasonal best of 4.63n to win the women’s pole vault. Olympic champion Katie Moon took second place with 4.53m beating Venezuela’s Robeilys Peinado on countback.  

Men’s 400 metres hurdles: 

Gerald Drummond from Costarica improved his seasonal best to 48.56 to take a surprising win in the men’s 400 metres hurdles ahead of Estonia’s Rasmus Magi (48.85) and USA’s CJ Allen (48.99).

Prefontaine Classic 2024 Results