Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon set a new world record in the women’s 1500m at the Paris Diamond League meet on Sunday, breaking her previous record by 0.07 seconds set in Florence in June 2023. Kipyegon, led by two pacemakers, surged ahead to finish in 3:49.04 at Stade Charléty in what was one of the most exciting 1500m races of the season
Already a two-time Olympic 1500m champion with three world titles, 30-year-old Kipyegon will be looking to double in the 1500m and 5000m at the Paris Olympics later this summer. Last year at the World Championships in Budapest, she not only ran the double but won gold in both events.
“It feels amazing to break the world record. I am in the right direction towards the Paris Olympics,” Kipyegon said. “I have come from far because of the injury and recovering. After the trials I knew that I was in world record shape. I have run the quickest time in Kenya with the altitude. It showed me that I was capable of breaking the world record again. We just tried, because everything is possible.”
Australian Jessica Hull finished second with an Oceania record of 3:50.83, while Britain’s Laura Muir took third with a national record of 3:53.79.
All top eight athletes achieved personal bests.
“The Olympics are going to come in no time, so I am very happy and excited. I did know that I was in this kind of shape. I knew I was in a good spot, but I needed to run my own race. I’ve never run under 3:54 before, so it was amazing.” Muir said.
“Jessica was really good. I felt that she was behind me and I had to be careful because you never know if something can happen. But I just relaxed and ran my race,” said Kipyegon. “I knew that she is strong because she has broken the area record many times. The crowd was really cheerful, that was why the energy was so strong, it is really pushing us towards the finish line.”
Muir said she had a sense Kipyegon was going for a record attempt, “We’re not surprised. This is my fourth race with Faith where she broke the world record and it is amazing to be a part of that. She is able to do something that we have never seen and that drags all of us to run fast times as well. To win an Olympic medal will require a very fast time. It is going to be so, so hard.”
