BARCELONA, Spain (AFP) — Kenya's Beatrice Chebet smashed the women's world 5-kilometer record in Barcelona on Sunday.

The 23-year-old's time of 14 minutes and 13 seconds improved on the previous
women-only world record of 14:29 set by Ethiopia's Senbere Teferi in September 2021.Her performance also bettered the women's world record set in a mixed race of 14:19, achieved by Ethiopia's Ejegayehu Taye at the same Barcelona meet in 2021.

"I came to Barcelona determined to better the world record as I felt capable of that," Chebet said.

"This world record means a lot to me, I can't believe it."

Taye finished second behind Chebet on Sunday, clocking 14:21, while Kenya's Lilian Kasait Rengeruk was third in 14:26 as the top three dipped under the previous women-only world record mark.

Uganda's Joy Cheptoyek was also inside that mark, finishing fourth in 14:28.

Over the penultimate kilometer, Taye moved to the front to share the lead with Chebet — who won world cross country gold in Bathurst and world 5000m bronze in Budapest prior to her world 5-km title in Riga — as they both took turns in their attempt to hit record pace.