Faith Kipyegon smashes world record in sensational Paris DL win
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Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 07.07.24. | 18:55
She was using Sunday's race as preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics
Kenya's middle-distance runner Faith Kipyegon has once again smashed the women's 1500m world record after dominating Sunday evening's Paris Diamond League meet in a sensational 3:49.04.
The Kenyan, who was making her 2024 Wanda Diamond League debut, was initially set to use this race as preparation for the upcoming Paris Olympics, only to hang around the race pacemakers before producing that familiar dash to the finish line.
Under pressure from Australian Jessica Hull, Kipyegon produced her trademark 'kick' in the final bend, accelerated her way to the finish line to bag her fourth record in a year.
Hull, bagged a massive personal best by virtue of her brave race behind Kipyegon's shoes as she timed 3:50.82 which doubled up as an area record in the end.
Tokyo Olympic Games silver medalist Laura Muir was third with a national record of 3:53.79 while the USA-based Susan Ejore, who will join Kipyegon in representing Kenya in Paris, finished sixth with a personal best of 3:57.26.
The infant stages of the race suggested that something special was in the offing as speed in which the two pacesetters took off proved too strong for the rest save for Kipyegon and Hull.
In June last year, the world champion smashed the 1500m record in the Florence Diamond League after timing 3:49.11 wiping off Genzebe Dibaba's record.
The two-time Olympic champion broke the 5000m champion record in Paris Diamond League after timing 14:05.20 days after deserved victory in the 1500m.
Her record in the 5000m however, didn't stand the test of time as Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay set the bar higher in September last year.
The former world silver medalist set the mile record in July last year during the Monaco Diamond League after clocking 4:07.67.
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The three-time world champion will be in pursuit for double glory in Paris Games as she will represent Kenya both in the 1500m and the 5000m.
This will not be the first time Kipyegon will be looking to bag two gold medals in a championship as she successfully did in the 2023 worlds in Budapest.
Besides going for double success, she will be seeking to win her third gold in the Games having won in the Rio 2016 Games before defending her crown in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, world 5000m silver medalist Jacob Krop won the 3000m event after crossing the line in 7:28.83.
Krop will be seeking to mine an Olympic medal as he is Kenyan team.
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