Beatrice Chebet Is First Woman To Run A Sub-14 Minute 5k!

Beatrice Chebet has become the first woman to run 5km in under 14 minutes as she lowered her own world record on the streets of Barcelona on 31 December 2024. 

Her time of 13:54 was 19 seconds faster than her previous record, which she set at the same event, Cursa dels Nassos, one year earlier. That time requires an astonishing average pace of 2:47 per kilometre, or 4:28 per mile.

With records held for both 5000m on the track and 5k on the road, Chebet’s time has become the fastest-ever women’s 5k. The world record for the fastest track 5000m is Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tseagy’s 14:00:21. Chebet’s best on the track is 14:05:92. 

In breaking this world record, the 24-year-old Kenyan crowned a spectacular 2024 which saw her become Olympic champion in the 5000m and 10,000m in Paris, break the 10,000m world record (28:54), and win her second Diamond League title in the 5000m. 

Now Chebet is focusing on winning the 5000m and 10,000m at the World Championships in Tokyo in September 2025. 

Image: Matthew Quine for Diamond League