DL Final Women’s 1500 — Trophy No. 5 To Kipyegon
WHILE THE 1500 PACERS were given some ambitious instructions — 2:04 for 800 and 2:36 for 1000 — the race was not a WR chase. That much was clear at 300, when heavily favored Faith Kipyegon, undefeated for more than 3 years, didn’t hang with the rabbits and was passed by Ethiopian teen Birke Haylom.
The pacers led past 400 in 61.84 and 800 in 2:04.63, the wavelights having slipped away by that point. Said Kipyegon, “It was a bit cold to run 61 seconds in the first lap and 62 seconds for the next lap.” It wasn’t until 1K — the rabbit far ahead at 2:40 and change — that the 3-time Olympic champion went past Haylom and charged for home.
This time — unlike in many of her races — she had company. Eight others ran in her slipstream. Kipyegon would have to outkick all of them to capture her fifth DL title. Closest were Ethiopians Diribe Welteji and Freweyni Hailu, with Australian Jessica Hull in 4th. Kipyegon passed 1200 in 3:11.06, looking over her shoulder. Hailu attempted a move at the end of the backstretch but she soon dropped back.
Coming off the turn, Kipyegon and Welteji left the others behind, having forged nearly a 10-meter gap. The Kenyan lifted again and Welteji moved wide but could not come close to covering that final move. Kipyegon flashed five fingers as she hit the line in 3:54.75; Welteji ran 3:55.25 and Hull caught Hailu on the runin, 3:56.99–3:57.25.
“The World Record was not on my mind today,” Kipyegon confirmed. “It was a good race, but definitely not an easy one. I tried to be myself and focus on the finishline.”
Results
1. Faith Kipyegon (Ken) 3:54.75 (3:11.06); 2. Diribe Welteji (Eth) 3:55.25; 3. Jessica Hull (Aus) 3:56.99; 4. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 3:57.26; 5. Nelly Chepchirchir (Ken) 3:58.05; 6. Georgia Griffith (Aus) 3:58.40; 7. Georgia Bell (GB) 3:58.95; 8. Birke Haylom (Eth) 3:59.27; 9. Melissa Courtney-Bryant (GB) 3:59.75;… rabbit—Vivian Chebet (Ken) (61.84, 62.79 [2:04.63]).
