TOKYO 2020: Kipyegon begins her 1500m title defence

Olympics 1500m gold medalist Faith Kipyegon leads former World Junior 800m silver medalist Winnie Chebet and 2017 World Under-18 1500m silver medalist Ednah Jebitok as the trio takes on a star-studded field in the heats. 

Jebitok was a late entry to the exclusive club of Tokyo Olympians as she achieved the time with two days left to the qualification deadline, racing in Leverkusen, Germany to clock 4:03.46 enroute to winning the True Athletes Classics meeting. 

Chebet gets action off for the Kenyans in heat one scheduled for 3.35 am early Monday morning.  Jebitok is in heat two alongside Sifan Hassan who is attempting an unprecedented treble with 5000m and 10,000m also on her plate. 

While they still have the preliminary stages to go through, the potential battle between Kipyegon and Hassan in the final is one of the most anticipated as the two renew their rivalry in a championship.

Kipyegon will be a much tougher opponent than she was in Doha, during the World Championships, where she clocked 3:54.22 and finished a well-beaten second to Hassan (3:51.95). 

The dynamics are, however, different as Kipyegon, after losing yo Hassan in Florence, turned the tables at the Diamond League meeting in Monaco earlier July when she produced a brilliant performance to win in 3:51.07, the fourth fastest time in history.

Kipyegon has an exceptional championship record, having won or finished second in every major 1500m championship final she has contested since 2014 and has demonstrated that she is in career-best form.

Hassan, having become the first person to combine the 1500m and 10,000m successfully at the World Championships in Doha in 2019 has made it clear that she is seeking a fresh challenge in Tokyo.

Meanwhile, Britain’s ever-reliable Laura Muir has been on the cusp of a global championship breakthrough in this event for some years and is near her best with a 3:55.59 clocking this year that makes her the third-ranked contender.

Ethiopia’s world indoor record-holder Gudaf Tsegay has elected to focus on the 5000m, leaving Freweyni Gebreezibeher Hailu as her country’s top contender (3:56.28 for third place in Monaco) in this event. Her sister Lemlem Hailu and world U20 800m champion Diribe Welteji, who set an Ethiopian U-20 record of 3:58.93 in Hengelo, make up the rest of the Ethiopian team.

Two other women in the field have broken four minutes this year. US champion Elle Purrier St Pierre (3:58.03) and Australian Linden Hall (3:59.67).

Additional information by World Athletics.