Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon is officially the queen of the middle distance. A week after setting a 1,500m world record at the Diamond League meet in Florence, Italy, Kipyegon stepped up to the 5,000m and did not disappoint. She clocked an unbelievable world record time of 14:05.20 at Paris Diamond League on Friday, beating the former record holder, Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gideyin a heroic final lap performance.
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One week aprΓ¨s avoir battu le record du monde du 1500 m, π°πͺ Faith Kipyegon rΓ©cidive sur 5000 m grace Γ un chrono diabolique de 14’05β20 ! π€©
πΊ read #MeetingParis est Γ suivre en πππ₯πππ§ dΓ¨s maintenant sur @lachainelequipe pic.twitter.com/CPuCKkecNo
β PARIS MEETING (@MEETINGPARIS) June 9, 2023
This remarkable achievement comes just a week after Kipyegon had already made headlines by smashing the 1,500m world record in a sensational time of 3:49.11. The 29-year-old mother and athlete surpassed the previous 5,000m world record of 14:06.62, held by Gidey, who came second to Kipyegon in the race in 14:07.94. This 5,000m was Kipyegon’s first of her in nearly eight years, resulting in a staggering improvement of her previous personal best by 26 seconds.
Kipyegon engaged in a captivating duel against Gidey, sharing the lead three to four times over the final two kilometers. On the final lap, the Kenyan 1,500m specialist unleashed a remarkable sub-60-second lap, propelling her to victory in record time. Kipyegon sat in the lead pack for the first 3,000m and did not push the pace at the front until the final five laps. Kipyegon may have the potential to become the first woman to break the 14-minute barrier.
WORLD RECORD
Exactly one week after breaking the 1500m world record, π°πͺ’s Faith Kipyegon runs the fastest 5000m in history with 14:05.20 π³
60 second final lap π«‘
πΈ @DanVernonPhoto and Marta GorczyΕska for Diamond League AG
*Subject to the usual ratification procedures pic.twitter.com/f3Qh2bS5FL
β World Athletics (@WorldAthletics) June 9, 2023
The Kenyan wasn’t the only runner to break a world record at the Paris Diamond League on Friday. Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen smashed the two-mile world best of 7:58.61 by four seconds, which has stood since 1997.
