NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 22 – Was there any doubt? Faith Kipyegon cemented her legendary status and a claim as the greatest 1500m female runner of all time as she clinched her third World Championship title in Budapest, Hungary on Tuesday evening.
Kipyegon, the triple world record holder, controlled the tempo from start to finish, before deploying her devastating finishing kick to stop the clock in 3:54.87 for her third global gold.
The 29-year old Kenyan has been in brilliant shape this season, setting three world records; in her traditional 1500m race, the 5,000m and the less run mile. Her gold in Budapest was testament of her abilities and dominance.
Kipyegon controlled the race from start to finish and didn’t allow anyone take the front. A good sprint off the gun enabled her patch at the apex of the 12-woman group, and she kept it that way till the end.
At the bell, she hit her usual injection of pace, and behind her Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji went on an audacious ambition to catch up with her. Further back the group, the heavily patched Sifan Hassan, still nursing wounds from her 10,000m fall, also put in a decent fight to gather up ground.
She did so and at the home stretch was occupying third, and looking to fight for silver, as gold was long gone with the girl from Keringet.
Welteji managed to hang on for silver in 3:55.69, while Sifan timed 3:56.00 for the bronze. Sifan and Kipyegon will clash once again on Wednesday in the women’s 5,000m.
Meanwhile, youngster Nelly Chepchirchir came home fifth in a personal best time of 3:57.90, the last ditch sprint proving too hot for her, but nonetheless proud of running her best ever time, and an indication that the future is bright.
