File picture: Last month, Parul kicked off her season in the 3000m steeplechase event with the second-best-ever Indian timing at the Shanghai Diamond League. | Photo Credit: K. MURALI KUMAR

Indian long-distance runner Parul Chaudhary shattered her own national record in the women’s 5000m, clocking 15:04.26 to finish second at the Meeting Nikaia 2026 in Nice, France, on Saturday.

The 31-year-old improved on her previous national mark of 15:10.35, set in 2023, slicing more than six seconds off the record. Ethiopia’s Bereka Seniya Mohammed won the race in 15:03.85, just 0.41 seconds ahead of the Indian.

Last month, Parul kicked off her season in the 3000m steeplechase event with the second-best-ever Indian timing at the Shanghai Diamond League. She clocked 9 minutes 12.84 seconds, slightly slower than her personal best and national record of 9:12.46.

Parul had finished seventh in a distinguished field that had Tokyo Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda and reigning World champion Faith Cherotich of Kenya.

Published on Jun 14, 2026