Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon wins unprecedented fourth women’s world 1,500m title

TOKYO – Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon delivered a dominant performance to claim an unprecedented fourth world women’s 1,500m title in Tokyo on Sept 16.

The Kenyan, also three-time Olympic champion over the distance, timed 3min 52.15sec for another gold to add to her incredible medal haul that guarantees her place in the pantheon of the very best middle distance runners.

Her fourth world title matched the record held by Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj, who won the men’s event between 1997 and 2003.

Kipyegon’s teammate Dorcus Ewoi took silver in 3:54.92, while Australian Jessica Hull claimed bronze (3:55.16).

“I just want to thank God,” said Kipyegon. “Being able to defend my title and to win a fourth gold feels really special,” Kipyegon said.

“After setting the world record in Eugene (in July), I said to myself, ‘I have to go to Tokyo and defend my title’. I knew I could run it under control.

“I won here in the 2021 Olympics just after becoming a mother, so being back here, winning again, means I can show a new gold medal to my daughter.”

Kipyegon shot out to the front of the pack in what turned out to be a true gun-to-tape performance, the 31-year-old never looking like she would cede the lead she took.

With two laps to go, Kipyegon, tracked by another compatriot Nelly Chepchirchir and Hull, looked comfortable as she upped the pace, the pack now strung out from its initial bunching.

Kipyegon took them through the bell for the final lap as the crowd at the Japan National Stadium rose to their feet.

A spurt down the back straight opened the gap between Kipyegon and her rivals, who were left staring further into space as she widened her lead coming off the final bend before raising her arms as she crossed the line.

Ewoi battled past Chepchirchir and Hull for silver in a last-gasp sprint. The Australian did well to edge out the third Kenyan for bronze.

In the day’s other finals, Cordell Tinch lived up to a fine season of form to win the men’s 110m hurdles. The American clocked 12.99sec for gold ahead of the Jamaican duo of Orlando Bennett and Tyler Mason, who each timed personal bests of 13.08sec and 13.12sec respectively.

Canada’s Ethan Katzberg claimed a third global hammer title in three years when he launched his second attempt a massive 84.70m for a championship record.

The 23-year-old was incredibly over 81m with all six throws and finished with an 83.73m for fun with the gold medal already assured.

He is now a double world champion, sandwiching his Olympic triumph in 2024. His win made it a hammer double for Canada in Tokyo after Camryn Rogers completed the same global hat-trick on Sept 15.

In the men’s high jump, Hamish Kerr of New Zealand won the gold with a leap of 2.36m. Woo Sang-hyeok of South Korea took the silver with Jan Stefela of the Czech Republic claiming the bronze.

Meanwhile, American 16-year-old Cooper Lutkenhaus vowed to come back stronger after being eliminated in the 800m heats, comparing it to “failing a math test”. The high school student became the youngest runner to represent the United States at the world championships but made an early exit after finishing seventh in his heat.

He took the positives from his performance in front of over 50,000 fans, saying he “came out here just to learn as much as I could and race the best guys in the world”.

Lutkenhaus, who does not turn 17 until Dec 19, said: “Being in school, it’s like failing a math test occasionally, but you come back, and I’m just excited for what the future holds.” AFP, REUTERS