Double world champion Gudaf Tsegay rewrote history when she took down three months world 5000m record at the Prefontaine Classic held on Sunday night in Oregon.
The 26 year-old ran perfectly calculated race to erase Faith Kipyegon’s old course record of 14:05.20 that she set in July at the Paris Diamond League Meeting with a new World Record of 14:00.21 taking off five seconds.
The Tokyo Olympics 5000m bronze medallist came excruciatingly close to becoming the first woman ever to dip under the 14-minute barrier for the 5000m distance.
“My primary aim today was the world record, and am grateful to have taken it down” said Tsegay.
The 26 year-old unleashed a speed gear and setting a blistering pace that left her opponents unable to respond as set the Meeting Record and a new personal best. She was followed a distant later by World Cross Country champion, Beatrice Chebet from Kenya who also ran a new personal best of 14:05.92 with World 10,000m bronze medallist, Taye Ejgayehu wrapping up the podium three finishes in a time of 14:21.52.
Africa Games 5000m bronze medallist, Lilian Kasait Rengeruk from Kenya and reigning World Indoor 3000m champion, Hailu Lemlem from Ethiopia came home in fourth and fifth in respective time of 14:40.81 and 14:42.29.
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