Kipyegon ‘snubs’ Prefontaine Classic, announces season opening race
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 15.05.24. | 15:33
Following her withdrawal from the women’s 1500m at the Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen, China last month, she was expected to race the 5000m in Eugene
Faith Kipyegon, the 1500m world record holder, has announced that she will start her season in four weeks at the national trials.
The announcement comes a day after organisers announced that the former 5000m world record holder would be opening her season at the fourth leg of the Wanda Diamond League, the Prefontaine Classic, scheduled for 25 May.
“I’ve been building in a great way during the past months for a beautiful season ahead. Some weeks back I got a small muscle problem that was handled well. I’m now back in full training, focusing to start my season in 4 weeks time at the Kenyan Trials for the Olympic Games (sic),” Kipyegon wrote on her socials.
She continued, “I saw my name announced for @preclassic, it’s one of the greatest competitions in the circuit and I plan to compete there again in 2025.”
Following her withdrawal from the women’s 1500m at the Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen, China last month, she was expected to race the 5000m in Eugene. She remains non-committal about the distance she will compete at the Paris Olympics national trials.
Kipyegon who had a spectacular 2023, breaking three world records (mile, 1500m, 5000m) on her way to winning a double at the World Championships in Budapest last raced on 1 October as she made her road running debut at the World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia.
She looked set to bag another world title, having started the race quickly, but Ethiopian Diribe Weltaji unleashed a powerful kick to clinch gold in 4:21.00.
Another Ethiopian, Freweni Hailu, also coasted past Kipyegon to grab the silver medal in 4:23.06 as the Kenyan took the bronze medal in 4:24.13.
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