It’s so emotional, says Kipyegon after smashing mile world record
KENYA’S Faith Kipyegon shattered the women’s mile world record, while compatriot Ferdinand Omanyala won the men’s 100m in a photo finish at the Monaco Diamond League meeting on Friday night.
Kipyegon controlled the field and knocked almost five seconds off the world mark as she finished nearly seven seconds ahead of second-placed Ciara Mageean from Ireland.
The 29-year-old Kenyan won in four minutes 7.64 seconds (4:07.64) to smash Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan’s 2019 mark of 4:12.33.
Kipyegon has now broken three world records in two months, including the 1500m and 5000m.
“It was a blessing to do this with these ladies. I can see that they’re all happy for me, and it’s so emotional,” she said.
Omanyala ran the men’s 100m in 9.92, one-tenth of a second ahead of Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, while Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake took third place in 10 seconds flat.
“Tonight, I just confirmed what I am capable of,” Omanyala said after securing his first Diamond League victory in the 100m.
“I wanted a faster time, but a win is a win.”
American Fred Kerley, who suffered his first defeat of the season last week at the Silesia Diamond League, did not run, while South African star Akani Simbine – who beat Kerley in that Poland meeting – was a late withdrawal after being initially named on the start list.
Norwegian Karsten Warholm posted his second-best ever time in the 400m hurdles, clocking 46.51, a tenth of a second faster than his own Diamond League record set in Oslo last month.
Alison dos Santos from Brazil tried to keep pace, but Warholm had a firm hold on the race, sending a warning shot to his rivals ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next month.
“This is nice timing as the World Championships are just around the corner,” Warholm said.
“Seeing that things are still working and I can go faster and faster every time, that means a lot.”
Omanyala’s teammate, Wyclife Kinyamal, won the men’s 800m in 1:43.22, while Nia Ali blasted to another world-leading time of 12.30 seconds in the 100m hurdles as Americans took the first four spots.
Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson won in the 200m in 21.86 seconds, ahead of Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia.
“Oh, my execution, I do not think that the curve was as good as I wanted but I managed to go until the finish so it was good,” Jackson said.
Britain’s former world champion Dina Asher-smith took third place with a time of 22.23, her season’s best.
Sweden’s world record-holder, Armand Duplantis, experienced a challenging time in the pole vault competition, losing the event for the first time this year.
He failed to clear the winning height of 5.92m set by American Christopher Nilsen and finished in fourth place.
“Today did not go as planned, and this is my last competition before the World Championships in Budapest. So, I will try to be careful, rest well and work on my left side,” Duplantis said. “It was a bad day, and I will be back full shape in Budapest.”