Kipyegon credits missed mile target for fuelling her world record in Eugene
Faith Kipyegon broke her own 1500m world record at the Prefontaine Classic, clocking 3:48.68 in Eugene. Speaking after the race, she credited last month’s frustrating mile attempt in Paris for reigniting her drive.
Faith Kipyegon delivered another unforgettable performance on Saturday night, breaking her own 1500m world record at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. The multiple Olympic and world champion clocked 3:48.68, shaving more than three-tenths of a second off her previous mark of 3:49.04 set at last year’s Paris Diamond League.
But it was her comments after the race that painted the clearest picture of what fuelled her performance - disappointment.
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Two weeks ago in Paris, Kipyegon attempted to break the four-minute barrier in the mile during the ‘Breaking4’ challenge. She ran 4:06.42, fast, but still well off the target. That near miss, she said, reignited her focus.
“I was preparing myself for something special, to run under four minutes in the mile,” she said. “That didn’t happen, but it pushed me to get better and better towards the 1500. I knew it was still possible to go under 3:49, and I’m grateful to God that I made it today because I spoke about it last week and here I am.”
The 30-year-old Kenyan dominated the field in Eugene, with Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji finishing second in a personal best 3:51.44, while Australia’s Jessica Hull clocked a season’s best 3:52.67 to take third.
Kipyegon was quick to acknowledge those around her who have contributed to her journey.
“This is the time I was expecting when I was in Paris,” she said. “I thank God, my management, my coach, and everyone in my support system. It feels amazing.”
Now the holder of both the 1500m and 5000m world records, Kipyegon remains grounded, crediting the depth of competition for keeping her sharp.
“To be honest, the ladies are pushing me too. They are running fast now, and that’s what I wanted — to motivate the younger generation to come and do even better,” she said. “It feels great that they are pushing me as well to break records. These ladies are amazing, I love competing with them.”
Her performance in Eugene not only rewrote the record books but also reaffirmed her status as one of the greatest middle-distance runners in history. Yet for Kipyegon, the pursuit is not just about winning, it’s about inspiring.
“Let’s push each other,” she said. “We can still break barriers.”
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