Senbere Teferi and Agnes Tirop Break World Records at the Adizero Road to Records Race
Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi shattered the world record in the 5K at the Adizero Road to Records running festival in Germany on Sunday, September 12.
Teferi broke both the women’s-only record of 14:44, set by Sifan Hassan, and the outright world record of 14:43, run by Beatrice Chepkoech earlier this year.
Also at the Adizero Road to Records, Kenya’s Anges Tirop lowered the women’s-only 10K world record by 28 seconds, running 30:01.
Two world records fell at the Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach, Germany on Sunday. Senbere Teferi shattered the outright world record in the 5K, and Anges Tirop lowered the women’s only 10K world record by 28 seconds.
Taking advantage of the record attempts organized by Adidas in a road racing festival named after the brand’s signature shoe, both runners achieved historic marks after near-misses at the podium in the 5,000-meter final at the Tokyo Games six weeks ago, which was won by Sifan Hassan.
In the women’s 5K, Teferi clocked 14:29 in a mostly solo effort on the roads surrounding Adidas headquarters. Teferi’s time broke the previous record of 14:43 set by Beatrice Chepkoech in February at the 2021 Monaco Run, and the women’s-only world record of 14:44 set by Sifan Hassan in 2019. She also beat the fastest 5K in history—14:32 set by Joyciline Jepkosgei—before the distance became an official world record event.
The 26-year-old from Ethiopia ran with the field through the first kilometer in 2:57. She pulled away from her competitors around four minutes into the race and continued to distance herself, splitting 5:46 for the first two kilometers. By 4K (11:37), Teferi established a significant gap up front and ultimately reached the finish line 25 seconds ahead of runner-up Melknat Wudu.
Teferi finished sixth in the 5,000 meters in Tokyo, her second appearance at the Olympics.
“After the Olympics, I knew I was ready to get this world record but today I did it,” the world championship silver medalist said on the race broadcast. “I’m very happy.”
Ninety minutes earlier, Tirop battled against fellow Kenyan Sheila Chepkirui to win the women’s 10K race in 30:01.
The pair broke away from the lead pack heading into the first 5K, which they reached in 15:00. With about two kilometers left, Tirop made her move to pull away from Chepkirui. The 25-year-old held her lead all the way into the finish line, beating Chepkirui by 16 seconds and obliterating the previous women’s-only world record of 30:29 set by Asmae Leghzaoui in 2002. The world record set in a mixed race is 29:43, also run by Jepkosgei.
Tirop’s performance follows a fourth-place finish in the 5,000-meter final in Tokyo, her first time representing Kenya at the Games. She earned back-to-back bronze medals in the 10,000 meters at the 2017 and 2019 IAAF World Championships after winning the individual title at the 2015 IAAF World Cross-Country Championships.
You can watch all three races (the men’s and women’s half marathon, the men’s and women’s 10K, and the men’s and women’s 5K) below:
You Might Also Like
