'There is still room for improvement' - Faith Kipyegon ahead of Tokyo World Championships
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 14.08.25. | 16:37
The mother of one revealed that narrowly missing her mile target in Paris only sharpened her hunger
Triple Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon is riding high after a sensational start to the season, but she insists she has not yet reached her peak.
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With less than five weeks to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Kipyegon noted that there is still room for improvement as she prepares to take on both the 1,500m and 5,000m.
On Thursday, 26 June, at the Stade Sébastien Charléty in Paris, Kipyegon came within striking distance of history when she attempted to become the first woman to run the mile in under four minutes.
The mile, 1,609 metres, just over four laps of a standard track, demanded that she run roughly two seconds faster per lap to break the barrier. She fell just short, clocking 4:06.42 in what was still the fastest time over the distance.
The mark was not ratified as a world record due to event conditions, but it demonstrated her remarkable form.
A week later, on Saturday, 5 July, she stunned the world at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
Surging ahead in a blistering final lap, Kipyegon crossed the line in a jaw-dropping 3:48.68, shaving 0.36 seconds off her world record set in Florence, Italy, in June 2023.
She became the first woman in history to dip under 3:49 in the 1,500m. Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia took second in 3:51.44, while Australia’s Jessica Hull claimed third in 3:52.67.
The performance was proof of the meticulous preparation that went into her Breaking4 attempt, work that paid off spectacularly in Eugene.
Reflecting on her season so far, Kipyegon noted that self-belief has been her guiding light.
“The season has been great. I want to thank God. It has been a very beautiful journey towards Tokyo, starting with 1,000m in Xiamen and then going for Breaking4, making a beautiful race in Paris, and going to Eugene for the World Record.
That was very special. I was not expecting to break my World Record, but I believed in myself,” she offered.
The mother of one revealed that narrowly missing her mile target in Paris only sharpened her hunger.
“If I crossed 3:49 when I was attempting Breaking4, I think I am still capable of running better. It was a good experience, and I think there is still room for improvement to still run under 3:48.
I keep pushing the World Record to become faster,” she disclosed.
In Tokyo, Kipyegon will face a formidable field in both events.
The 5,000m will pit her against compatriots Beatrice Chebet and Agnes Jebet, while the 1,500m features strong Kenyan contenders Nelly Chepchirchir, Susan Ejore, and Dorcus Njoki. She is taking a day at a time, focusing on healthy training.
“The target now is to train healthily. I just want to stay fit and injury-free because I am going to double in both 1,500m and 5,000m.
I know it’s not an easy task, but I hope that through training and preparation, everything will go well. I am very happy to join a very strong team,” she said.
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