Faith Kipyegon shatters multiple records after first 3000m race in a decade
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 16.08.25. | 18:03
For someone who had not raced the distance in a decade, Kipyegon looked unstoppable
About 15 years ago, Faith Kipyegon lined up in Poland barefoot, armed with nothing more than raw talent and a dream.
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She had no spikes, no records, no global medals, just a quiet belief that one day, she would stun the world.
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On Saturday, 16 August, at the Silesia Diamond League in Chorzów, Poland, she completed the full circle to do just that.
The triple Olympic 1,500m champion delivered yet another masterpiece, smashing the African record in the women’s 3,000m with a jaw-dropping 8:07.04.
Her time obliterated the previous African record of 8:11.56 set by compatriot Beatrice Chebet in May, while also setting a Meet Record, African Record, Diamond League Record, and World Lead.
Kipyegon's time also came agonisingly close, just two seconds off the world record of 8:06.11, set by Junxia Wang of China on September 13, 1993.
For someone who had not raced the distance in a decade, Kipyegon looked unstoppable. She began cautiously, trailing in third after the first 400m as Australia’s Jessica Hull and American Sage Hurta-Klecker took the early initiative.
But by the halfway mark, Kipyegon surged ahead, never looking back.
As her rivals faltered, Hurta-Klecker bowing out at 1,000m and Hull stepping off the track at 2,000m, the Kenyan star pressed on, her stride growing only stronger as the laps ticked by.
Ethiopia’s Likina Amebaw and Aleshgn Baweke gave chase, with Britain’s Rose Davies and the Netherlands’ Maureen Koster in the mix, but none could match Kipyegon's rhythm.
When she passed her familiar 1,500m mark, Kipyegon entered uncharted territory. Instead of fading, she soared, and at 2,700m, she still commanded the lead.
With one lap to go, she unleashed her trademark finishing kick, powerful, smooth, devastating.
The clock stopped at 8:07.04. Faith Kipyegon had just rewritten history once more.
Beatrice Chebet
Meanwhile, double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet was outclassed by Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay to finish second in the 1,500m. She clocked 3:54:73, as Gudaf won 3:50:63.
Hunter Bell of Great Britain completed the podium in 3:56:00.
Top five
Faith Kipyegon (Kenya) – 8:07.04 (World Record)
Likina Amebaw (Ethiopia) – 8:34.53
Aleshgn Baweke (Ethiopia) – 8:35.52
Rose Davies (Great Britain) – 8:36.53 (Season Best)
Maureen Koster (Netherlands) – 8:36.71
