Under Rome's warm summer sky, Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet electrified the Golden Gala crowd with a 5,000m performance for the ages.
Crossing the finish line in 14:03.69, Chebet not only smashed her own personal best of 14:05.92, she secured the second-fastest time ever recorded in the women's 5,000 meters. Her effort came just 3.48 seconds shy of the world record of 14:00.21 set by Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay in 2022.
Known for holding the world record in the 10,000m, Chebet paced herself strategically, hitting the halfway mark in 7:02 before powering through the final laps with the focus of a true champion. Fans and fellow athletes erupted as she crossed the line, signaling that a world record is well within reach.
More highlights of the Golden Gala included American sprinter Trayvon Bromell clocking a season's best of 9.84 seconds in the men's 100m, and two-time Olympic discus champion Valarie Allman hurling her discus 69.21 meters to set a new meet record. Their standout performances underscored the meet's reputation as a proving ground for elite talent.
With the Diamond League circuit in full swing, athletes are ramping up ahead of world championships and the next Olympic cycle. Chebet's near-record run in Rome has set the bar high and left fans around the world eagerly awaiting her next race.
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Chebet runs second fastest 5,000m ever at Diamond League in Rome
cgtn.com