Sparkling Faith Kipyegon sets women's 5,000m world record, a week after attaining similar feat in1,500m
Double Olympic 1,500m
champion Faith Kipyegon on Friday evening smashed the women's 5,000m world
record with a blistering run of 14:05.20 at the Paris Diamond League.
The new world
mark comes just a week after Kipyegon obliterated the women's 1,500m world
record with a 3:49.11 run at the Florence Diamond League.
Making her
Diamond League debut over 5,000m, Kipyegon came up against seasoned athletes
including world record holder over the distance Letesenbet Gidey of Ethiopia
and former world silver medallist Margaret Chelimo.
Kipyegon trailed Gidey who led for the larger part of the race before the Kenyan unleashed her fearsome final kick that saw her smash the world record as Gidey finished second in 14:07.94.
"No, I did
not think about the world record, I do not know how I made it," said
Kipyegon, who burst into tears after crossing the line.
"I just
focused on the green light and tried to stay relaxed and enjoy the race.
"I just did
the race and wanted to see what happens. When I saw that it was a world record
I was so surprised. It was all about giving my best. I just wanted to improve
on my personal best, the WR was not my plan."
The field was
aided by three pacesetters, including Kenyan Beatrice Chepkoech, another world
record holder, albeit in the 3,000m steeplechase.
Carefully
following the trackside lighting system that indicated world record pace,
Kipyegon hit the front with 700m of the 12-and-a-half lap race to run.
Gidey stayed on
her heels as the Kenyan, a double world and Olympic champion over the 1500m, went
through the bell in front.
The Ethiopian
threatened to hit back coming into the final 200 metres, but Kipyegon
accelerated away down the home straight in an absolute masterclass of distance
running, just as she did in Florence last week.
Gidey finished
second in 14:07.94 with another Ethiopian, Ejgayehu Taye, the world record holder
over 5km, coming in third (14:13.31)
Kipyegon had
been scheduled to return for a training camp in Kenya before returning to
Europe for another potential record attempt over 1500m at the Monaco Diamond
League meet on July 21.
But after her
second world record, she said: "I do not know what will be next, I still
have to discuss it with my coach and my management.
"I am so
happy, I am very emotional right now and do not know what to say. If my body is
healthy, anything is possible."
Additional reporting by AFP
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