Kipyegon Breaks World 1500M Record in Florence, Italy

Faith Kipyegon's achievement in lowering the 1500m world record at the Florence Diamond League meeting on Friday, June 2, 2023, has been received warmly around the world. 

She crossed the finish line in 3 minutes 49.11 seconds, beating out Genzebe Dibaba's 2015 record of 3:50. Kipyegon previously won gold medals at both world and Olympic competitions, however, this is her first time breaking a global record and she now holds both the fastest and third-fastest times in history. 

High-ranking figures in the nation led by President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga have commended Faith Kipyegon's latest accomplishment. The pacers had been asked to take the field through in 3:54 pace on a wet track following an early rainfall. This tempo only left Kipyegon with plenty of energy when she assumed the lead on the second to last lap and sprinted through the last 600m at an unprecedented speed.

Kipyegon raced home in an impressive fashion, smashing the eight-year-old record of 3:50.07 set by Ethiopia's Genzeba Dibaba in Monaco back in 2015. She had come close to breaking this record at the Herculis meet last year, setting her previous best of 3:50.37 which motivated her further this season. Having already won Olympic and world titles, the 29-year-old Kenyan was determined to claim the last great 1500m prize. 

Kipyegon is now focusing on the 5000m event in Paris before going back to Kenya in preparation for another attempt at setting a record in Monaco during the Herculis meeting in July. The top female middle-distance runners were ecstatic over Kipyegon's win, surrounding her with a group hug after the race as they celebrated her success.