Exclusive: Faith Kipyegon Reveals Her Secret After Smashing 1,500m World Record Again

On Thursday, 26 June, at the 20,000-seater Stade Sébastien Charléty in Paris, fans gathered to watch as triple Olympic 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon attempted to become the first woman to run the mile in under four minutes.

A mile is 1609 meters, slightly more than four full laps around a 400-meter track. She had to run approximately two seconds faster per lap to break the 4-minute plateau.

She narrowly missed the time, clocking 4:06:42 in what was still the fastest time over the distance. The historic time was not eligible to be a world record due to the conditions set, but it showed what was possible. 

Redemption in Eugene

One week after the attempt, on Saturday, 5 July, the Star girl lined up for the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon. That is when she stunned the world, clocking a sensational time of 3:48:68. 

That saw her shave 0.36 seconds off her previous record and made history as the first woman in history to dip under 3:49.

As it turns out, all the hard work that went into the Breaking4 project spectacularly bore fruit at the Prefontaine Classic. 

Kipyegon’s strength and speed were undeniable, especially in the final lap where she surged ahead, leaving her competitors trailing by a significant margin.

Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia finished second with a time of 3:51.44, and Jessica Hull of Australia took third in 3:52.67.

A promise kept

Speaking to SportsBoom.com, Kipyegon noted that dipping under 3:49 was a fulfilment of a promise she made to herself during the Breaking4.

“When I was in Paris, I told myself that it was still possible to run under 3:49, and I did it. My management, my coach, and my entire support system played a crucial role," she told SportsBoom.com. 

This time, I was coming off an intensive preparation of running under 4. This time, I was focused on improving in the 1,500m. I knew it was possible to run under 3:49, and I am grateful to God that I finally made it,” she said.

The secret to her speed

Before the Prefontaine Classic, the women’s 1,500m world record stood at 3:49.04, which Kipyegon set in Florence, Italy, in June 2023. Shaving 0.36 seconds off her record was no mean feat. We sought to understand the secret behind her impressive times.

“Consistency is the secret. I follow my coach's advice to improve each year, I am getting better and better. I did the 4:06 in Paris, and ran a world best in Prefontaine,” the outspoken Kipyegon revealed.

Eyes on Tokyo World Championships

With less than two months to the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, Kipyegon believes she is on the right track. Who knows, another World Record might be on the cards. 

“This is the road to Tokyo, and I am in the right direction,” she uttered.

For the mother of one, her main aim has always been to inspire the next generation of athletes. She is optimistic that they will match her record, if not surpass it.

“My competitors push me to break the World Record. I am always happy because when I have good times, I inspire them to run fast too. I always want to motivate the younger generation to come and do better, long after I am gone."

Plea for better facilities

The triple Olympian further used the moment to shine a spotlight on a persistent lack of adequate training infrastructure in the country.

“I think my only request, something I’ve told the Cabinet Secretary before and will keep saying, is about access to proper training facilities. When I was preparing to attempt the sub-four, I went through so much. Finding a good place to train or even access a track was a challenge,” she stated.

With the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret closed during her buildup, Kipyegon had to make do with training at the Moi University School of Law and the University of Eldoret, facilities she credits for making her record attempt possible.

The mother of one became visibly emotional as she highlighted the gulf in infrastructure between Kenyan athletes and their international rivals. 

“This is not something someone like me should still have to say. If you look at elite athletes around the world, they have top-notch training facilities. That is why global competitions are getting tougher, because better facilities produce better performances."

In response to the outcry, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving sports infrastructure across the country.

“I hear you about the tartan track, and as a ministry, we are already investing heavily. In stadiums like Kamariny, Kipchoge Keino, Nyayo, and Homa Bay, we are already working on having a standard tartan track. We will invest and ensure you have the best facilities for your training,” Mvurya said.