THree times Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon in Paris on Thursday 26. Kipyegon missed the record by six seconds. Photo: NBC News.
Three time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon failed to set the new record of being the first woman to run under four minutes in Breaking4 miles.
The 31-year-old clocked four minutes 06.42 seconds in perfect conditions at Stade Charlety in Paris – a time 1.22 seconds faster than her world record – in pursuit of the momentous world record.
However, Kipyegon remains the fastest woman in the world with her new personal best, however, the time will not be recognised as an official record because Kipyegon was assisted by a team of male and female pacemakers and wore technologically advanced kit and shoes at the Nike-sponsored ‘Breaking4’ event.
She was aided by 13 pacemakers, including Britain’s Olympic 1500m bronze medalist Georgia Hunter Bell and Jemma Reekie, as she chased the Wave lights tracking her progress on the inside curb of the track. Kipyegon completed the third lap in 3:01.84, but her hopes of achieving the target gradually faded in the final 400m.
The decorated Kenyan wonder woman sending message of commitment to the world and aspiring athletes, to keep pushing, further stating that she will not lose hope, and hopes to get clock the record in future.
“I have proven that it is possible, it is only a matter of time. If it is not me, it will be somebody else. I will not lose hope, I will still go for it. I hope I will get it one day. I will tell them we are not limited. We can limit ourselves with thoughts, but it is possible to try everything and prove to the world that we are strong. Keep pushing,” Kipyegon said.
Britain’s Sir Roger Bannister became the first man to beat the four-minute barrier for the mile in 1954.
However, Kenyans never failed to cheer celebrate their won, with President William Ruto terming Kipyegon’s as historic, and an inspiration to think beyond our own boundaries.
“With every stride, you carried the hopes of our nation and proved that Kenyan greatness knows no limits, your triumph is not athletic, it is historic and it inspires us all to run beyond own boundaries,” President William Ruto said.
