Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon made it two world records in a week after delivering a masterclass in the women’s 5,000m at the Paris Diamond League meeting on Friday, while Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma smashed the 19-year-old record in the men’s 3,000m steeplechase.
Kipyegon headlined a stellar night of track and field at the Stade Charlety that also saw Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen set a new world record in the rarely-run 3.2km event.
Kipyegon showed her trademark kick to the line in the 5,000m to win in 14 minutes, 05.20 seconds, slicing a full second and a half off the previous best of 14:06.62 set by Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey, the world 10,000m champion.
Photo: AP
There were further outstanding performances from Keely Hodgkinson, the world and Olympic silver medalist from the UK who set the 10th fastest time ever in dominating the women’s 800m in 1:55.77, while the US’ Grant Holloway showed promising early-season form in winning the 110m hurdles in 12.98 seconds.
However, it was Kipyegon who stole the show just seven days after shattering the women’s world record in the 1,500m in Florence.
“No, I did not think about the world record, I do not know how I made it,” said Kipyegon, who burst into tears after crossing the line. “I just focused on the green light and tried to stay relaxed and enjoy the race.”
Photo: AFP
“I just did the race and wanted to see what happens. When I saw that it was a world record I was so surprised. It was all about giving my best. I just wanted to improve on my personal best, the world record was not my plan,” she said.
Not to be outdone, Girma, twice a silver medalist at the world championships and once at the Olympics, clocked 7:52.11, shattering the previous best of 7:53.63 set by Kenyan-born Qatari Saif Saaeed Shaheen in Brussels in 2004.
“I’m happy and very proud. I felt so fast during the race, so confident,” Girma said. “The world record is not a surprise, I planned to beat it tonight in Paris. It’s a result of a full determination.”
Ingebrigtsen’s efforts over the 3.2km event was equally as impressive, with the trio of record breakers aided not only by on-the-mark pace-setting but also by the Wavelight trackside lighting system that indicated world record pace — and a raucous crowd.
The 22-year-old Norwegian, already the world record holder for 1,500m indoors, clocked 7:54.10 in an incredible display in the seldom-run event, which is not an acknowledged Olympic or world distance.
The time smashed the previous best performance of 7:58.61 set by Kenyan Daniel Komen in July 1997 in Hechtel, Belgium.
“Being able to make this record feels amazing. It is my first world best outdoors,” Ingebrigtsen said.
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