Rio de Janeiro, Aug 12 (IANS) Ethiopian Almaz Ayana clocked 29 minutes, 17.45 seconds to break the women's 10,000 metres world record at the Rio Olympic Games here on Friday.
Ayana, the 5,000m world champion, was racing over 10,000m for only the second time in an official competition but that didn't stop her from smashing the former world record of 29:31.78 minutes, set by China's Wang Junxia in 1993, reports Xinhua.
Kenyan Jepkemoi Vivian Cheruiyot, who took bronze at the London 2012 Games, claimed the second spot with a timing of 29:32.53 minutes.
Defending champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia was third with a finish in 29:42.56 minutes -- her personal best performance.
But the show was starred by Ayana, who was "in awe" after becoming the first woman to set a 10,000m world record at an Olympic Games.
"This means everything to me. It's a huge deal. I never thought that this would happen. I'm so in awe," the 24-year-old said.
"I have worked very hard. I wouldn't say that my recent training has been any different from before but it was hard and it was all worth it."
In June, she registered the fastest 10,000m debut in history with 30:07.00 at the Ethiopian Olympic trials.
