Faith Kipyegon reveals hamstring injury after rare defeat as focus shifts to second half of season

Faith Kipyegon has revealed that she has been battling a hamstring injury since the opening Diamond League meeting in Shanghai, shedding light on her rare defeat at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene.

The three-time Olympic champion and world record holder finished third in the women's mile on Friday night, ending an extraordinary unbeaten streak in the mile and 1,500 metres that had lasted more than five years.

Despite the result, Kipyegon remained upbeat, saying the performance was part of her recovery journey and expressing confidence that she will return to her best later in the season.

"As athletes, we often deal with challenges you can't always see from the outside," Kipyegon said after the race.

"Since Shanghai, I've been dealing with a hamstring injury, but the last two weeks have been a step in the right direction.

"I didn't want to miss the Nike Prefontaine Classic, and I didn't want to miss competing in the magic of Hayward Field. From here, we keep building, step by step, towards a strong second half of the season.

"Congratulations, Nikki Hiltz, on a beautiful win."

Kipyegon crossed the finish line in 4:17.80, behind American Nikki Hiltz, who won in a world-leading and meeting record time of 4:17.49. Fellow Kenyan Dorcus Ewoi placed second in a personal best of 4:17.62, completing a strong showing for Kenya.

The result brought to an end one of the most remarkable winning streaks in middle-distance athletics. Since 2021, Kipyegon had remained unbeaten over the mile and 1,500 metres, winning Olympic and world titles while setting world records in both events. Her current mile world record of 4:07.64 remains the fastest ever run by a woman.

The race unfolded differently from what many had expected. After pacemaker Taryn Parks stepped aside early, the contest developed into a tactical battle instead of the fast-paced race many had anticipated.

Kipyegon took the lead and controlled the pace, but the slower tempo kept the leading pack together. Hiltz, Ewoi and Australia's Jessica Hull stayed within striking distance before Hiltz produced a decisive surge over the final 300 metres to secure one of the biggest victories of her career.

After the race, Hiltz said the tactical nature of the contest suited her strengths, revealing that her coach had encouraged her to focus on winning rather than chasing a fast time.

For Kipyegon, however, the broader objective remains unchanged.

Although her remarkable unbeaten run has come to an end, her comments after the race suggest she views the Eugene result not as a major setback but as another milestone in her recovery from injury.

With the second half of the season still ahead, the Kenyan star remains focused on regaining full fitness as she targets more major titles and looks to add to a career that has already cemented her status as one of the greatest middle-distance runners in history.