Kenyan middle-distance superstar Faith Kipyegon capped a year that brought her a trio of world records by claiming a hat-trick of world 1,500 metres gold medals as she ran a perfect race to come home in 3:54.87 in Tuesday’s final.
Kipyegon dominated the event final at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary, leading the track race from start to finish as she comfortably retained her world title in an event she has already set the world record in this year.
She was unchallenged by the field, winning in 3:54.87, with the real interest coming behind her. Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji slotted in for second, (3:55.69) but Sifan Hassan – who had already missed out on 10,000m gold by falling with just 10 metres left in the race – did her usual strategy of running the first half of the race at the tail of the pack.
Read Also: Omanyala’s message to Kenyans after heartbreak in Budapest
The Dutchwoman moved up to the middle of the field as she took the bell for the final lap, pushing forward into third as she rounded the back straight bend for the last time. With Kipyegon out of reach, Hassan – who had made it past Welteji with 100m to go – started to fade, hanging on for third (3:56.00) from a charging Ciara Mageean, who set a new Irish national record just 0.61 seconds behind Hassan.
Speaking afterwards in the mixed zone, Kipyegon said: “As the world record holder and defending champion you go to the front and control the race and just run your race. So I ran my race and it looked so easy.
“I was quickest through the 400m and I knew going to the bell I had to push harder and harder. This win has motivated me a lot now going (into the 5000m); I know everything is possible now.”
Kipyegon and Hassan are likely to clash again later in the week when both race over 5,000m.