Kipyegon eyeing more records

FLORENCE, Italy — World and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon has reiterated that she still aims for more after setting a new world record in the women’s 1,500m  in Florence. Kipyegon added the women’s 1,500m world record to a stellar career path that has already seen her bag two world and two Olympic golds over the distance. The 29-year-old Kenyan set a women’s 1,500 metres world record by clocking 3:49.11 at the third Diamond League athletics meeting of the season in Florence. Kipyegon, winner of the last two Olympic 1,500m golds and the 2017 and 2022 world titles, bettered the previous mark of 3:50.07 set by Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba in 2015. “When I crossed the finish line, I knew I broke the world record because I had a good finish and felt very strong at the end,” she said according to AFP. “After 1km, when the pacemaker went out, I just pushed myself towards the finish line. And that was what my manager told me — anything is possible — after the pacemaker, just run your race. “And that is what I did. I am excited — my family was watching. I told them that this would be an amazing day for me, I am well prepared and I really trusted in me.” Kipyegon added: “I am going back to celebrate with my daughter. This was really important because this was something I was still missing in my career. “Getting this, it will really motivate me and I left the legacy for the next generation — they can say she broke the world record, she was the Olympic and the world champion. It was amazing.” “We have really come along as 1,500 women,” Kipyegon said. “They are really special. We come along together, cheer one another. “This is sport, we have to love each other and celebrate one another at our lowest moments and highest moments, and I really thank the ladies for coming along and running together and celebrating this world record together. We were part of this together.” The Kenyan finished well ahead of Britain’s second-placed Laura Muir and Australian Jessica Hull in third, with Kipyegon’s rivals crowding around to congratulate her after the race. “I’m so happy for Faith,” Muir said. “I would have loved to be closer to her. But for the first race of the season this is really decent.” Muir claimed second spot in 3:57.09 and Hull finished third in 3:57.29, stripping more than a second off her previous Australian and Oceania records set two years ago at the Tokyo Olympics. “It was pretty obvious from the start that Laura Muir was going to want to go quick so I followed her,” Hull said. “I looked up at 500 metres in and thought it was a bit hot for me. “I was caught in no-man’s land when I was out there but instead of being in my own head, I just got back into the race plan and fought well. I kept my eye up on Laura and found my legs again. “It was pretty crazy to be part of a world record race and I didn’t realise what had happened because I was wrecked when I was finished. “We all respect Faith so much and it seems right that she has the world record now because she truly is the greatest and it’s really exciting to be part of it.” Fellow Australians Abbey Caldwell (4:01.34) and Linden Hall (4:02.43) were sixth and 10th respectively. World champion Fred Kerley eased to victory in the men’s 100 metres, again in the absence of injured Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs.