WRRC: Faith Kipyegon beaten as Welteji sets world mile record

Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji clocked 4:21.00 at the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championship women's mile to beat favourite Faith Kipyegon to the title.

In what was Kipyegon's debut on the roads, the 1500m, 5000m and mile (on track) record holder was looking to win her third global title following her triumph in 1500m and 5000m in Budapest. 

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Her track mile world record of 4:07.64 set in Monaco earlier this year was seven seconds faster than the personal best (PB) of the next-fastest entrant and 20 seconds faster than the previous road mile world record of 4:27.97 set by USA's Nikki Hiltz. 

From the gun, Kipyegon went out hard and was in cruise control but as the pack hit the 1 km mark, the multiple world and Olympic champion showed her first signs of weakness as she glanced over her shoulder at Welteji who had stayed behind her for the entirety of the course. 

The 21-year-old who has twice been Kipyegon's closest competitor finishing behind the Kenyan in Budapest and again at the Wanda Diamond League final in Eugene tool the lead with the finish line in sight and was never to be caught as she raced to a 4:21.00 world record. 

Kipyegon (4:24.13), clearly beaten, slowed down allowing 2022 world indoor 800m silver medalist  Freweyni Hailu to pip her for second place in 4:23.06 and ensure an Ethiopian 1-2. 

The men’s mile lived up to its status as the most wide-open event of the Championships as USA’s 20-year-old Hobbs Kessler took a surprising victory in a world record of 3:56.13.

In a close and frantic finish with the first nine men placing within two seconds of one another, Britain’s Callum Elson took an equally surprising silver in a PB of 3:56.41, finishing just 0.02 ahead of former world record-holder Sam Prakel, who took bronze.

Kenya’s world U20 mile record-holder Reynold Cheruiyot led during the early stages, but the teenager was eventually caught by the rest of the field. With the finish in sight, Kessler positioned himself at the front of the large lead pack with Prakel close behind.

Elson started to charge on the other side, but neither could catch the former US high school phenomenon, who broke the tape in 3:56.13, taking five seconds off the previous world record set by Prakel earlier this year.