Faith Kipyegon’s record-breaking streak continued with a stunning performance at the Monaco Diamond League meeting. On Friday, July 21, the Kenyan runner shattered the women’s world record in the mile, winning in 4:07.64 at Stade Louis II.
What You Need to Know About the Sydney Marathon Nikki Hiltz (4:16.35). And 12 runners achieved personal bests in the fastest women’s mile in history.
Behind pacemakers Kristie Schoffield and Winnie Nanyondo, who brought the field through 900 meters, Kipyegon led the race wire-to-wire. The two-time Olympic champion split 1:02.6 for the first 400 meters and followed the opening lap with a steady 2:04.6 for 800 meters.
By halfway, the 1500-meter world record-holder was already three seconds ahead of the chase pack, which included star runners Laura Muir, Ciara Mageean, Freweyni Hailu, and Jessica Hull. Around the 900-meter mark, Nanyondo stepped off, leaving the two-time world champion to navigate the remaining two laps solo.
At the bell, Kipyegon hit 1200 meters in 3:06.8 before unleashing a jaw-dropping kick. With a blazing 60.8 last lap, the 29-year-old reached the finish line almost seven seconds ahead of the runner-up. In the process, she broke the previous 4:12.33 world record set by Sifan Hassan in 2019.
“I came for that, I wanted to chase the world record and thank God, it was amazing,” Kipyegon Running in the Cold. “And just before the world championships. I was really looking forward to running here. I have done good training so far, and I just came for it.”
I came for that, I wanted to chase the world record and thank God, it was amazing, Kipyegon 1500 and 5,000-CA Notice at Collection earlier this summer. She aims to defend her title in the 1500 meters and double in the 5,000 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest later this summer.
“I do not know how I am doing this because it just keeps going really in a good way. I was feeling healthy and just focusing myself for this world record,” she said. “When I started this season, my goal was to just break the 1500 world record. It was still in my head and in my mind. Thank God, I did also the 1 mile and the 5,000.”
Behind Kipyegon, athletes from around the world followed with a slew of national records. Mageean finished second in 4:14.58, a new Irish record. Hailu of Ethiopia placed third in 4:14.79, a season’s best. Muir broke the British record by running 4:15.24, and Hull obliterated the Australian record with a 4:15.34 finish.
Moving up two spots on the homestretch, Hiltz smashed the American record with a sixth-place finish in 4:16.35. Their time improves on the previous 4:16.71 record set by Mary Slaney in 1985. “It is insane, like I can’t believe it,” they told Citius after the race.
The race is an exciting tuneup for the World Athletics Championships, where most of the competitors will meet again in the 1500 meters. The meet is scheduled to begin on August 19.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
