Kenya’s three-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon broke her own women’s 1,500 metres world record on Saturday, clocking a stunning 3 minutes 48.68 seconds at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene, Oregon.
Kipyegon improved on the previous record of 3:49.04 she set just weeks earlier at the Diamond League event in Paris on 7 July 2024.
The 31-year-old Kenyan was running her first 1,500 m race of the season, following a near-miss attempt to become the first woman to break the four-minute barrier in the mile at a special event in Paris on 26 June.
Reflecting on that effort, she said it had helped sharpen her performance for her signature distance.
“I was preparing myself for something special, to run under four minutes in the mile,” Kipyegon said. “That pushed me to get better and better towards the 1,500, so I knew it was still possible to run under 3:49.”
The mile attempt involved extensive technical support, including a custom suit and new Victory Elite FK running shoes, but Kipyegon believes her latest record is a clear sign she is on track for the World Championships in Tokyo this September.
“This is the road to Tokyo, and I would say I am in the right direction,” she said, though she has yet to decide whether to attempt the 1,500 m/5,000 m double.
Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji finished second in 3:51.44, overtaking Australia’s Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull, who had stayed close to Kipyegon until the final lap but faded to third place with a time of 3:52.67.
Hull praised Kipyegon’s relentless excellence, saying, “For someone to show up and keep doing it over and over again, she’s phenomenal.
She knew I was there this time, so she put her foot down and made the last 500 metres tough.”
