India’s distance running star Parul Chaudhary delivered a landmark performance on the international stage, finishing second in the women’s 5000m at the Meeting Nikaïa while rewriting the Indian national record with a sensational timing of 15:04.26.
The run marks one of the biggest breakthroughs in Indian middle and long-distance running in recent years, as Parul continues her steady rise on the global circuit.
New national record and major leap in performance
With her latest effort, Parul has:
Set a new Indian national record in the women’s 5000m
Clocked 15:04.26, improving her previous best of 15:10.35
Sliced nearly six seconds off her lifetime best, which she had set in 2023
Achieved the 3rd-fastest 5000m time in Asia this season.
What makes this performance significant
Breaking a national record in the 5000m by such a margin is a strong indicator of both endurance and tactical improvement. The near six-second improvement over her previous best reflects enhanced race execution, strength development, and sustained speed endurance—key markers in elite distance running.