Ethiopian runner breaks 5,000m depth record

In the final competition in Eugene, Oregon, USA - where the 2022 world athletics championship will be held, Tsegay crossed the finish line first with a record of 14 minutes 0 seconds 21.

Although she could not become the first female runner in history to run 5,000m in under 14 minutes, the Ethiopian runner still succeeded in breaking the world record. The previous best parameter belonged to Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon, with 14 minutes 5 seconds 20, set at the Paris Diamond League in June 2023. Tsegay also shortened his personal best (PB) by up to 12 seconds compared to his performance at Diamond League London 2023 on July 23.

"My goal today is to break the world record. I really want to achieve this," Tsegay said, and said she will aim to become the first female runner to break the 14-minute mark in a 5,000 run. m next.

In the final night on September 17, with the support of her pacer, Tsegay completed the first 1,000m in 2 minutes 48 seconds 8 and the 2,000m in 5 minutes 37 seconds 24. She was beaten by compatriot Birke Haylom. led at the 3,000m mark with 8 minutes 26 seconds 3, but did not lose control.

Tsegay crossed the 4,000m mark in 11 minutes 16 seconds 89 and created a two-horse race with Beatrice Chebet of Kenya. But the Ethiopian runner broke through in the last 800m to "cut off" his opponent and win the gold medal.

Chebet finished second with 14 minutes 5 seconds 92 and became the third best female runner at the 5,000m distance. In third place was Ejgaeyhu Taye of Ethiopia with 14 minutes 21 seconds 52.

Tsegay experienced ups and downs in the 2023 season, surpassing Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan to win the 10,000m gold medal at the Budapest 2023 World Athletics Championships. But she finished in a disappointing 13th place in the world 5,000m final. a few days later.

This is the second world record of Tsegay's career. In 2021, she set an indoor 1,500m world record of 3 minutes 53 seconds 9 in northern France.