Faith Kipyegon at the Silesia Diamond League/ HANDOUT Triple Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon has vowed to keep the chase alive after coming within a whisker of one of athletics’ most enduring world records, the women’s 3,000m mark.
On Saturday evening at the Silesia Diamond League, Kipyegon produced an 8:07.04 performance, just 0.93 seconds shy of the world record of 8:06.11 set by China’s Wang Junxia in Beijing in 1993.
Kipyegon was followed by Ethiopians Likina Amebaw (8:34.53) and Aleshign Baweke (8:35.51).
Despite the narrow miss, she insists the record will not elude her for long.
"My target was to come close to the world record and that is what I did. Now I know getting that record is very possible," Kipyegon said.
She highlighted that challenging herself is the cornerstone of all her record-breaking triumphs.
"This is what I love doing, challenging myself and just pushing myself to see how strong I am," she added.
Her confidence is now sky high and she is more than determined to chase after the record.
"The confidence is very high, we have been pushing each other as women, breaking records and that is really motivational," she added.
Her electrifying run was not without reward.
Kipyegon shattered the African record of 8:11.56, previously held by double Olympic champion Beatrice Chebet, who set it earlier this year in Rabat.
She also set a world lead, a Diamond League record and a meeting record, cementing her place as the second-fastest woman in history over the distance.
Chebet sits third.
Kipyegon, a four-time world champion, credited her pacers, Jessica Hull and Sage Hurta-Klecker, for propelling her to a massive lifetime best.
"To be paced by the best in the world is really amazing. I want to thank Jessica and Sage for helping me to achieve the results I did today," she said.
The Silesia showdown was Kipyegon’s fourth career outing over 3,000m.
She first tested the distance in 2014 at the Doha meeting, finishing third in 8:23.55.
A year later, she ran 8:38.91 for eighth at the Prefontaine Classic, before returning to Doha in 2022, where she clocked 8:38.05 for second.
"To be honest, I did not see the clock on the finish line because I was so tired. But now I am very satisfied with the time," she said.
Kipyegon is now shifting gears to the Tokyo showdown, where she hopes to defend both her 1,500 and 5,000m titles.
"It is all about Tokyo now. "I have beautiful memories in Tokyo. That's where I got my first gold medal as a mom, so it's really special to go back there and defend my titles over 1,500m and the 5,000m and see," she stated.
Kipyegon claimed the world 1,500m title in Budapest 2023 stopping the clock in 3:54.87 before securing the 5,000m crown in 14:53.88.
During this year's edition in Tokyo, Kipyegon will be joined by Nelly Chepchirchir, Susan Ejore and Dorcas Ewoi over 1,500m.
The 5,000m will see her team up with Beatrice Chebet, Agnes Ng'etich and Margaret Akidor.
