Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet lit up the track at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea on the night of Friday, June 6, 2025, narrowly missing the women’s 5000m world record but still making history with the second-fastest time ever over the distance.

Racing under the warm Roman sky in front of a packed stadium, Chebet clocked a phenomenal 14:03.69, breaking the Kenyan national record and coming within a whisker of Ethiopian star Gudaf Tsegay’s world record of 14:00.21.

“What did we just witness? Beatrice Chebet comes so close to the 5000m world record with an incredible 14:03.69. 2nd fastest time in history, world lead, Kenyan record, meeting record,” a statement shared by World Athletics on X read.

What did we just witness 🤯

Beatrice Chebet comes so close to the 5000m world record with an incredible 14:03.69 🔥

✅ 2nd fastest time in history
✅ World lead
✅ Kenyan record
✅ Meeting record#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/Hh6qkJd4ZW

— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) June 6, 2025

Chebet, Tsegay, and Italy’s Nadia Battocletti quickly pulled ahead with a small lead pack setting a fierce early pace. When the pacemakers stepped aside, Chebet didn’t hesitate—she surged to the front and never looked back.

“Second-fastest EVER! Beatrice Chebet continues her incredible form with a meeting record of 14:03.69 in the women’s 5000m. That’s just two and a half seconds off the world record,” Wanda Diamond League wrote on X.

Second-fastest EVER!

Beatrice Chebet continues her incredible form with a meeting record of 14:03.69 in the women's 5000m.

That's just two and a half seconds off the world record 🤯#RomeDL 🇮🇹#DiamondLeague
📸 @chiaramontesan2 / @GorczynskaMarta pic.twitter.com/CoyXJwZRbB

— Wanda Diamond League (@Diamond_League) June 6, 2025

Relentless Chebet

Tsegay tried to stick with her, but Chebet was relentless. With four laps to go, the Ethiopian couldn’t hold on and drifted back, leaving Chebet all alone in her chase for the record. And that, perhaps, was the difference.

Without anyone to push her, Chebet’s pace dropped ever so slightly in the final laps. By the time she hit the bell lap, it was clear the world record would remain intact—for now. Still, she powered down the home stretch with purpose and pride, crossing the line to the roar of the crowd and rewriting the Kenyan record books.

“I just said, let me run my own race today,” a smiling Chebet said afterwards.

“I was targeting around 14:15, but I felt strong. So I pushed. I now know I’m in good shape, and I believe the world record is possible. I’m going home to prepare.”

Tsegay finishes 5th

Behind her, Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu came through for second in a personal best of 14:19.33, while Battocletti thrilled the home fans with a stunning Italian national record of 14:23.15, good enough for third. Tsegay, the pre-race favourite, finished a surprising fifth.

Chebet’s performance sent a clear message—not just to her rivals, but to the world: she’s not just chasing history; she’s about to make it.