Beatrice Chebet of Kenya closed out her spectacular 2023 season by smashing the women’s 5k road world record, clocking 14:13 to win the Cursa dels Nassos in Barcelona on Sunday.

Chebet, 23, lowered the previous women’s-only mark of 14:29 set in 2021 by Senbere Teferi of Ethiopia. Chebet’s time is also faster than the women’s world record set in a mixed-gender race, which stood at 14:19 and was run by Ejegayehu Taye of Ethiopia, also in 2021.

The top four finishers in this race all dipped under the previous record. Taye finished second to Chebet, running 14:21, with Lilian Kasait Rengeruk of Kenya placing third, five seconds behind Taye. Fourth-place finisher Joy Cheptoyek crossed in 14:28.

The race also saw a U20 mark toppled as 18-year-old Medina Eisa of Ethiopia finished fifth in 14:40, six seconds faster than the previous record she set in April of 2022.

A world record definitely appeared to be in the cards early as the home covered the opening kilometer in 2:49 and continued to push the pace, hitting 2K in a brisk 5:38. Chebet, Rengeruk and Taye pressed on from there without pacing assistance and crossed 3K in 8:38. 

Over the next to last kilometer, Taye and Chebet alternated attempts to drop each other unsuccessfully and hit the 4K mark together in 11:36. Chebet made her decisive move surging into a tight turn with 500 meters to go. That extra gear put her a few meters clear of Taye and well on her way to a win and the record she sought.

"I came to Barcelona determined to better the world record as I felt capable of that," Chebet, who owns a 14:05.92 PB in the 5K on the track, told World Athletics. "This world record means a lot for me, I can't believe it."

For Chebet, setting the world record (pending ratification) is the cherry on top of a season that saw her win the 5K title at the World Athletics Road Running Championships, gold at the World Cross-Country Championships and a bronze medal in the 5000m on the track at the World Championships.