Olympic Women’s 1500 — Kipyegon 3-Peats In Deep OR Final

JUST TO TOE the line in the 1500 final was a monumental task, but nothing could deter defending champion Faith Kipyegon’s quest to reign supreme over one of the Olympics’ most iconic events.

In semi No. I Kipyegon escorted Brits Georgia Bell and Laura Muir, the U.S.’s Elle St. Pierre, Poland’s Klaudia Kazimierska and Spain’s Águeda Marqués to the final with her 3:58.64.

But semi No. II was a different story, as Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji needed 3:55.10 to stay ahead of Australia’s Jessica Hull (3:55.40), American Nikki Hiltz (3:56.17), Welteji’s teammate Gudaf Tsegay (3:56.41), Kenya’s Susan Ejore (3:56.57) and France’s Agathe Guillemot (3:56.69) as a dozen broke 4:00.

In the final Tsegay wasted no time in taking the lead. She crossed 400 in a piping hot 59.23 followed by St. Pierre, Hull, Kipyegon and Hiltz.

With the pace slowing, Kipyegon got on Tsegay’s heels and stayed there through 800 (2:03.27), with Welteji, St. Pierre, Hull, Ejore, Bell and Hiltz tightly bunched and Muir 2 seconds back.

At the bell it was Kipyegon with Welteji on her shoulder and Hull, St. Pierre, Bell, Tsegay, Ejore, Hiltz and Muir all charging.

Kipyegon passed 1200 in 3:07.10 and accelerated down the back straight, dropping Ejore, St. Pierre and Hiltz.

With 200 to go, it was Kipyegon, Welteji, Hull, Bell and Muir. With 150 to run, Kipyegon found another gear and established a 5-meter gap that grew with every stride.

Kipyegon would win her third 1500 title going away, but there was a battle raging behind her. Welteji was fading and Hull was primed for 2nd, but Bell was on the move. She passed Welteji 15m from the line and nearly caught Hull for the silver.

Kipyegon’s 3:51.29 broke her own Olympic Record (3:53.11) by nearly 2 seconds, with Hull (3:52.56), Bell (3:52.61) and Welteji (3:52.75) also bettering the old standard. Muir finished 5th in 3:53.37 followed by Ejore (3:56.07), Hiltz (3:56.38) and St. Pierre (3:57.52).

For Bell, not only did she run a 4 second PR, she also broke Muir’s British Record. In fact, Welteji, Muir and Ejore all PRed.

A jubilant Kipyegon reflected that her experience in the 5000 only fueled her desire to win, saying, “After what I went through over the 5000, I didn’t sleep until yesterday. So making it through today is really. I don’t even know how to express…