At the Monaco Diamond League, Faith Kipyegon broke her third world record of 2023, this time in the mile. Kipyegon, the double gold medalist, ran 4:07.64 in an absolutely dominant display of middle-distance running. The time knocks almost five seconds off Sifan Hassan’s mark from 2019, also set in Monaco.
WORLD RECORD
— World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) July 21, 2023
🇰🇪's Faith Kipyegon obliterates the world record in the mile by more than 5️⃣ seconds with 4️⃣:0️⃣7️⃣.6️⃣4️⃣
That's her 3️⃣rd world record in less than 2️⃣ months. It's Faith's world and we're just living in it 🤩#DiamondLeague pic.twitter.com/XuW0byfKYA
"I do not know how I am doing this because it just keeps going really in a good way. I was feeling healthy and just focusing myself for this world record. When I started this season, my goal was to just break the 1500 WR," Kipyegon said.
The marks behind Kipyegon were fast as well. Ciara Mageean ran 4:14.58 for second place, breaking the Irish record, while Freweyni Hailu ran 4:14.79 for third. The next three across the line all set national records—Laura Muir (British record of 4:15.24), Jessica Hull (Australian record of 4:15.34) and Nikki Hiltz (American record of 4:16.35). Hiltz’s mark betters the time of 4:16.71 that Mary Slaney ran in 1985.
In total, 12 of the 13 finishers ran a personal bests.
1 world record
— Herculis (@MeetingHerculis) July 21, 2023
4 area records
8 national records
WHAT 👏 A 👏 RACE 👏
📷 @GorczynskaMarta pic.twitter.com/pQi6zQNreo
For Kipyegon, the race marked two magical months. In the beginning of June, she broke the world record in the 1500m (3:49.11) and 5000m (14:05.20) in consecutive weeks.
Kipyegon is entered in the 1500m and the 5000m at next month’s World Athletics Championships.