Kenya’s Chebet nears 5000m world record at Rome Diamond League

Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet nearly rewrote the record books at the Rome Diamond League on Friday, running an impressive 14:03.69 in the women’s 5000 metres—just 2.5 seconds shy of Gudaf Tsegay’s world record of 14:00.21. Her time set a new meet record and further showcased her incredible form this season.

Chebet has been chasing history lately, having also clocked the second-fastest women’s 3000m ever with 8:11.56 in Rabat last month, following only behind Wang Junxia’s 1993 mark of 8:06.11.

In other standout performances from Rome:

• Jamaica’s Andrenette Knight ruled the women’s 400m hurdles with a commanding 53.67 finish.
• American Anavia Battle took the women’s 200m title in 22.53 seconds.
• Ireland’s Sarah Healy broke the four-minute barrier to win the 1500m in 3:59.17.
• The men’s 110m hurdles ended in a photo finish, with Switzerland’s Jason Joseph edging out American Cordell Tinch—both clocking 13.14.
• Another thrilling race came in the men’s 400m, where Quincy Hall of the U.S. edged South Africa’s Zakithi Nene by just 0.01 seconds, winning in 44.22.