Faith Kipyegon’s 1500m world record, set at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene in July this year, has been ratified by World Athletics.
Kipyegon, who is also a triple Olympic and world champion, clocked 3:48.68 at the Prefontaine Classic on 5th July, improving her previous record to 0.36 seconds off the world record of 3:49.04 she set in Paris on 7th July 2024.
The performance followed her 4:06.42 mile in Paris a week earlier – the fastest women’s mile performance in history, albeit in an unofficial and unratifiable exhibition event.
“The changes were that I was preparing myself for something special, which was to run under four minutes in a mile, and I think I pushed myself, getting better and better toward the 1500m,” she said. “So, I knew it was possible to still run under 3:49.
“This is the road to Tokyo, and I would say I am in the right direction.”
Kipyegon will next compete at the World Athletics Championships Tokyo 25, taking place from 13 to 21 September.
