Feb 15, 2021 3000 M Steeplechase world champion Beatrice Chepkoech has broken the women’s 5km road world record, clocking 14 minutes 43 seconds in Monaco .
Chepkoech who also holds the 3,000m steeplechase world record, withstood windy conditions to erase the previous record set by Sifan Hassan at the same event in 2019.
“I’m so happy because I didn’t expect it,” said Chepkoech,. “It was cold and there was a lot of wind, but I tried to follow my pace maker and everything was perfect.”
Chepkoech had already illustrated her strong early 2021 form with an 8:34.21 career best over 3000m indoors in Lievin on 9 February.
She’ll race next at the Copernicus Cup leg of the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting series in Torun, Poland, on 17 February before returning home to resume her training.
Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei, won the men’s race in 13:14.
Kenyans Bethwell Birgen and Davis Kiplangat clocked 13:17 and 13:19 to round out the top three with Morhad Amdouni of France fourth in 13:19, one second outside of the European record set by compatriot Jimmy Gressier at this race last year.