Kenyan runner clocks 8:07.04 at the Diamond League in Poland to go No.2 on the all-time rankings as Karsten Warholm, Kishane Thompson, Guduf Tsegay and Masai Russell also impress
With 8:07.04 at the Diamond League in Poland on Saturday (Aug 16), Faith Kipyegon came within less than a second of beating Wang Junxia’s controversial and long-standing world 3000m record.
The Chinese runner clocked 8:06.11 in Beijing in 1993 but the performance is one of the most dubious in the record books amid allegations that her training group, which was run by coach Ma Junren, took drugs.
Beatrice Chebet, the world 5000m and 10,000m record-holder from Kenya, came close to the 3000m record this summer with 8:11.56, but the world 1500m and mile record-holder Kipyegon came even closer this weekend, narrowly missing the mark by 93 hundredths of a second.
Kipyegon said: “It is all about Tokyo now. I am so happy. I wanted to run a longer distance. To be honest, I did not see the clock on the finish line because I was so tired. But now I am very satisfied with the time.”
On a day of fast times, which included Keely Hodgkinson’s 1:54.74 in a non-Diamond League 800m race, the women’s 1500m saw Gudaf Tsegay clock the fifth fastest time in history of 3:50.62.
The first lap was 62 seconds but the second lap an incredible 57 seconds as the pacer passed through 800m in 1:59.97 with Tsegay in pursuit.
The Ethiopian was clear at the bell but had a lonely and painful looking final lap. Kipyegon’s world record of 3:48.68 looked in danger at one stage but Tsegay faded in the latter stages to miss the mark.
Stepping down in distance from her usual 5000/10,000m territory, Chebet clocked 3:54.73 in second place although she never threatened Tsegay for the win.
In third, Georgia Hunter Bell ran 3:56.00 with American Nikki Hiltz running 3:56.10 in fourth. Such was the quality, Sarah Healy of Ireland ran 3:57.95 but was only ninth.
READ MORE: Keely Hodgkinson back in business
A big showdown in the men’s 100m which featured many of the probable contenders at next month’s World Championships saw Kishane Thompson of Jamaica win in 9.87 (0.3).
A fast-finishing Noah Lyles was runner-up in 9.90 with Kenny Bednarek third in 9.96, Christian Coleman fourth in 9.96 and Trayvon Bromell fifth in 9.97.
Thompson said: “The key is to find the momentum in the race and to maintain it till the end. Nobody is perfect, but I am working on improving my…
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