EUGENE, Oregon, July 6, 2025 – Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the three-time Olympic 1500m champion, once again etched her name in the history books by breaking her own world record in the women’s 1500m at the Prefontaine Classic, part of the Diamond League, on Saturday, July 5, 2025. Clocking an astonishing 3:48.68 at Hayward Field, Kipyegon shaved 0.36 seconds off her previous record of 3:49.04, set in Paris on July 7, 2024, solidifying her status as the greatest female middle-distance runner of all time.
The 31-year-old Kenyan, who now holds the three fastest 1500m times in history, led from the start, maintaining a relentless pace before unleashing a devastating kick in the final 200 meters. Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji finished second with a personal best of 3:51.44, while Australia’s Jessica Hull, the 2024 Olympic silver medalist, took third in 3:52.67. Hull praised Kipyegon’s dominance, saying, “She’s phenomenal. She put her foot down and made it really hard for that last 500 meters.”
Kipyegon’s record-breaking performance came just nine days after her bold attempt to become the first woman to run a sub-four-minute mile at a Nike-sponsored “Breaking4” event in Paris on June 26, 2025. Although she fell short, clocking 4:06.42—faster than her own official mile world record of 4:07.64 set in 2023—the effort was not officially recognized due to the use of pacemakers and non-standard conditions. Reflecting on the Paris run, Kipyegon told reporters, “I gave everything to try. I have proven it’s possible, and it’s only a matter of time.” She credited the psychological boost from that attempt for her success in Eugene, stating, “I knew it was possible to run under 3:49. I’m grateful to God that I made it today.”
The Prefontaine Classic was a historic night for Kenyan athletics, as Beatrice Chebet also broke the women’s 5000m world record earlier in the meet, clocking 13:58.06. Chebet cited Kipyegon as an inspiration, saying, “I said if Faith is trying, why not me?” The dual world records marked the first time in 32 years that two women’s distance records fell on the same day at an outdoor track event.
Kipyegon’s latest triumph earned her $60,000 in prize money—$10,000 for the win and a $50,000 bonus for the world record—equivalent to approximately KSh 7.8 million. This adds to her illustrious career, which includes three Olympic gold medals (2016, 2020, 2024), four World Championship medals, and five Diamond League titles. Her 2023 season saw her break world records in the 1500m (3:49.11 in Florence) and 5000m (14:05.20 in Paris), followed by the 1500m record in 2024.
Looking ahead, Kipyegon is focused on the 2025 World Championships in Tokyo in September, where she aims to defend her 1500m title. “This race puts me on track for Tokyo,” she said, attributing her success to her coach and consistent training. Her recent performances, including a 4:04.79 win at the Athlos meet in September 2024, underscore her unmatched dominance.
Kipyegon’s journey continues to inspire, with posts on X celebrating her as “the GOAT” of the 1500m. Her resilience, shown after overcoming a disqualification scare in the 2024 Olympics before securing gold, and her pursuit of historic barriers like the sub-four-minute mile, cement her legacy as a trailblazer in women’s athletics.
