Faith Kipyegon returns to track in Oregon after 'Breaking4' stint
Three-time 1,500m Olympics champion Faith Kipyegon, Rosemary Longisa who is a student at Washington State University, and Uganda's Halima Nakaayi hold a placard on the eve of the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon.
In Oregon, US
Three-time Olympics 1,500 metres champion, Faith Kipyegon, has said she has learnt invaluable lessons from her failed ‘Breaking4’ Project two weeks ago in Paris.
At the same time, the award-winning athlete has said she is now focused on winning her Diamond League races, as she targets competing in 2025 World Athletics Championships which will be held in Tokyo from September 13-21.
On May 26, the triple Olympics and reigning world 1,500m champion attempted to become the first woman to run the mile (1,600m) in under four minutes in a highly choreographed project bankrolled by American sportswear manufacturer Nike at Charlety Stadium in Paris.
Kipyegon, who is a member of Global Sports Communications stable, timed four minutes and 6.2 seconds (4:06.42) in her failed attempt.
Speaking on Friday on the eve of the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League Meeting in Eugene, the 31-year-old Kenyan athlete said she gained invaluable insights in ‘Breaking4’ project which have made her much more focused on the fine details that can make a big difference in a race.
Kipyegon said she is now in a better position to understand her strengths and weaknesses, which is good for her running career.
Kipyegon said that running the mile in under four minutes was still achievable, and she will still try to run faster given a chance before she paves the way for the next generation to also try and run the distance in under four minutes.
“It is possible to still run faster, and I believe I can still plan and run once again just to inspire the upcoming generation. I have always been motivated by my mentor Eliud Kipchoge who once said no human is limited,” Kipyegon told journalists at a packed pre-championship press conference in Oregon on Friday.
“Throughout the project, the whole world was watching to see if it is achievable, and I trust there are those kids who were inspired to run even better and faster. Maybe that is the generation that will come and lower that time,” the Kaptagat-based athlete observed.
Ahead of her 1,500m race in Prefontaine Classic Diamond League, Kipyegon said that her focus has now shifted to the Diamond League races where she is facing some of the finest runners this season.
Kipyegon observed that her focus now is to run a good race, the main target being the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo from September 13-21.
“At the (Breaking 4) project, I was running alone with pacemakers, and it was me against the clock, but I’m now shifting focus to the Diamond League races that will shape the remaining weeks ahead of the World Athletics Championships. Being the defending champion isn’t an easy task, but first I need to compete on Saturday well,” she added.
She said the 1,500m world record could go down in the upcoming races.
“I’m not saying that I will run world record time in Eugene, but when one is prepared for such a thing, it is still possible to run faster and maybe that will happen in the next Diamond League races,” Kipyegon observed.
At the 2025 Prefontaine Classic, Kipyegon will come up against a competitive field featuring Ethiopian runner Diribe Welteji, and Australia’s Jessica Hull, both of whom have posted impressive times this season.
Others in the field are US-based Kenyan runner Susan Ejore, Ethiopians Sharon Berhe and Freweyni, Elise Cranny, Nikki Hiltz, Shelby Houlihan Sinclare Johnson, all from USA.
Kipyegon holds the world record in 1,500m of 3:49.04 from the 2024 Paris Diamond League meeting.