Faith Kipyegon smashes 1500m world record

Faith Kipyegon had predicted that breaking the 1500m record was possible hours to the Florence Diamond League race and she delivered exactly that.

The greatest 1500m runner of all time literally flew in the three and a quarter laps to obliterate the record that had been in existence since 2015.

The multiple Olympic champion clocked, 3:49.11 wiping out Genzebe Dibaba’s record of 3:50.07.

Before breaking the record, Kipyegon, had, come agonizingly close on a number of occasions but one thing that remained clear despite the upset was, she never gave up.

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When the gun went off, it was crystal clear that, it was Faith against the clock as she made her intentions to get it right known as soon as she made the first step as the pace injected was simply, electric.

Very few can recall, who finished in the other podium places as all the eyes and camera angles were firmly fixed on the Kenyan girl as she broke sweat to bag what had been missing in her collection.

Running slightly behind her pace maker Hurta-Klecker Sage and the wavelight technology, Kipyegon took full control with 600m remaining and maintained the blistering pace to the line.

When she was done, the facial expression was enough to tell how pleased she was with the job done on the track.

The stadium had no choice other than to accord Kipyegon a standing ovation with the tens of athletes who had milled around the finish line joining her in celebrations.

Game recognizes game. This resonated well shortly after the race as 800m record holder David Rudisha was among those who came out, and hailed the former world silver medalist for joining the elite club of record holders.

“We are proud of your achievements,” wrote Rudisha.

People from all walks of life could not resist the urge to congratulate the charismatic Kipyegon whose next challenge will certainly be bagging the third Olympic gold medal in the Paris 2024 Games.

It remains to be seen whether she will defend her world title in Budapest in August this year.

Meanwhile, Commonwealth 100m champion Ferdinand Omanyala finished second behind world champion Fred Kerley in the Florence Diamond League.

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The rivalry between the two lived up to the expectation but it was the American who had the last laugh, as he replicated the performance he put in Rabat last week.

Omanyala finished third in Rabat behind Kerley and South Africa’s Akani Simbine who, also lined up in Florence.

The Kenyan clocked 10.05 with world bronze medalist Trayvon Bromell finishing third in a season best of 10.09 seconds.

Omanyala is expected to race in the Paris leg set for next weekend.