Faith Kipyegon to mark track return in Rome Diamond League
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Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 29.08.24. | 13:44
The Kenyan will duel a host of Ethiopians namely: Diribe Welteji, Birke Haylom, Worknesh Mesele, and Nigist Getachew
Three time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon will mark her return to the track on Friday when she takes part in the 1500m race at the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala, Rome this Friday.
Her appearance in the Diamond League meeting will act as her first competition since winning a historic third 1500m title at the Paris Olympic Games, where she also took silver in the 5000m event.
The Golden Gala will also mark Kipyegon’s return to the meeting where she set her first world 1500m record, though this year’s edition has returned to its traditional home in Rome as opposed to Florence.
Her only Diamond League appearance of the season to date was the Paris Diamond League event in July, where she broke her own 1500m world record with a magnificent 3:49.04.
The 1500m race in Rome promises to be a spectacular one, especially with Italian home idol Nadia Battocletti at the start.
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Battocletti in Paris took silver in the 10,000, and before that took two gold medals at the European Championships at the Olympic Stadium in Rome in June.
Battocletti also ranked fourth in Paris, in the 5000 meters, when for a couple of hours she had been awarded the bronze after the disqualification of Kipyegon, then readmitted and once again silver medalist.
Also in the line-up are a host of Ethiopians namely: Diribe Welteji, Birke Haylom, Worknesh Mesele, and Nigist Getachew, who comes in to replace the initially announced Gudaf Tsegay.
Currently 11th in the standings, Kipyegon still needs another big performance in Rome, if she is to qualify for the final and defend the Diamond League title she won in Eugene last year.
The Wanda Diamond League is the premier one-day meeting series in athletics and comprises 15 of the most prestigious events in global track and field.
Athletes compete for points at the 14 series meetings in a bid to qualify for the two-day Wanda Diamond League Final in Brussels on 13-14 September.
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