Faith Kipyegon shatters mile world record at Monaco Diamond League

MONACO – Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon shattered the women’s mile world record, while compatriot Ferdinand Omanyala won the men’s 100 metres in a photo finish at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday.

Kipyegon controlled the field and knocked almost five seconds off the world mark, as she finished nearly seven seconds ahead of second-placed Ciara Mageean of Ireland.

The 29-year-old Kenyan won in 4 minutes 7.64 seconds to smash Ethiopian-born Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan’s 2019 mark of 4:12.33.

“It was a blessing to do this with these ladies. I can see that they’re all happy for me and it’s so emotional,” said the two-time Olympic 1,500m gold medallist and twice world champion.

She has now set three world records in two months, including the 1,500m and 5,000m, and is peaking at just the right time with the World Athletics Championships looming.

“I have done good training so far and I just came for it. The time – yes, it was really good because the race was well planned.

“It just went smoothly and to accomplish the world record – that is amazing,” said Kipyegon, who took the lead with two laps to go.

“I do not know how I am doing this because it just keeps going really in a good way.

“When I started this season, my goal was to just break the 1,500m world record.

“It was still in my head and in my mind.

“Thank God, I did also the one mile and the 5,000m. So many. I want to defend my world title at 1,500m in Hungary but I am going to double also with 5,000m in Budapest.”

Omanyala ran the men’s 100m in 9.92sec, one-tenth of a second ahead of Letsile Tebogo of Botswana with Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake third.

“Tonight, I just confirmed what I am capable of. I wanted a faster time, but win is a win,” the 27-year-old said after securing his first Diamond League 100m victory.

American Fred Kerley, who suffered his first defeat of the season the previous week at the Silesia Diamond League, did not run.

Norwegian Karsten Warholm posted his second-best time in the 400m hurdles, clocking 46.51sec, one-tenth of a second faster than his own Diamond League record set in Oslo in June.

The Olympic gold medallist and world record holder (45.94 at Tokyo 2020), in his favoured lane 7, was quickly out of the blocks.

World champion Alison dos Santos was on Warholm’s inside and managed to keep the Norwegian in his sights.

But an aggressive final bend helped Warholm scorch through the line for the fourth-fastest time, sending a warning shot ahead of the Aug 19-27 worlds in Budapest.

“This is nice timing as the world championships are just around the corner. Seeing that things are still working and I can go faster and faster every time, that means a lot,” the 27-year-old said.

Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson scorched to victory in the 200m in 21.86, ahead of Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia. Britain’s former world champion Dina Asher-Smith was third in 22.23, her season’s best.

“Oh, my execution, I do not think that the curve was as good as I wanted but I managed to go until the finish, so it was good,” Jackson said.

Sweden’s world record holder, Armand Duplantis, experienced a challenging time in the pole vault, losing for the first time in 2023.

He failed to clear the winning height of 5.92m set by American Christopher Nilsen and finished fourth (5.72m).

“Today did not go as planned, and this is my last competition before the world championships,” Duplantis, whose outdoor best is 6.21m, said.

“So, I will try to be careful, rest well, and work on my left side. It was a bad day and I will be back in full shape in Budapest.” REUTERS, AFP