TOKYO, Japan, Sept 15 – Faith Kipyegon stamped her authority as the Greatest of All Time in the women’s middle distance after successfully defending her 1500m title and winning third gold for Kenya at the Tokyo World Championships on Tuesday.
Kipyegon led compatriot Dorcus Ewoi to a 1-2 finish, condemning Olympic silver medalist Jessica Hull of Australia to bronze.
Kipyegon, the world record holder, lived up to the expectations after controlling the race from gun to tape, crossing the line first in 3:52.15, ahead of American-based Ewoi, who overtook Hull to bag silver in a season’s best of 3:54.92.
Another Kenyan in the race, Diamond League winner Nelly Chepchirchir, came fourth in a personal best of 3:55.25.
“After setting the world record in Eugene, I said to myself: ‘I have to go to Tokyo and defend my title’. I knew I could run it under control,” said Kipyegon, who became only the second woman to win four world titles in the same track event after Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, who has won five 100m titles.
“This sport drives me. I won here in 2021 (at the Olympics) just after becoming a mother, so being back here, winning again, means I can show a new gold medal to my daughter. I am taking it one race at a time, and the 1500m medal is now in the pocket. I will focus now on the 5000m and try to win it.”
Kipyegon moved to the front from the off and was never passed, despite Chepchirchir attempting to do so on the last lap but getting nudged out of the way by Hull in the process.
The Australian was the only one capable of going with the world record-holder initially, but by the time she entered the home straight, the race had already been won.
