Faith Kipyegon wins her fourth world 1,500m title in Tokyo

There was never any doubt that she would–Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, world record holder, three-time Olympic 1,500m champion and three-time world champion, made it four world titles in Tokyo on Tuesday, controlling the race from the gun and crossing the line in 3:52.15. Her win matches Morocco’s Hicham El Guerrouj‘s four world championship titles over 1,500m.

Jessica Hull of Australia was by Kipyegon’s side throughout the first half (or more) of the race, and tried valiantly to hang onto her in the final lap, but was overtaken in the final metres by Kenya’s Dorcus Ewoi, who had maintained a steady third/fourth position, along with her countrywoman Nelly Chepchirchir, and was able to pull ahead of the Olympic silver medallist to cross the line in 3:54.92, a personal best. Hull was forced to settle for bronze in 3:55:16, while Chepchirchir took fourth, running a personal best of 3:55.25.

The race went out hard, rounding 400m in just under 64 seconds; Kipyegon went through the second lap in 63 and the third in 61.

Canada’s Gabriela DeBues-Stafford finished strong in 11th position, with a season’s best sub-four time of 3:59.65–the sixth-fastest of her career and the fastest 1,500m time for a Canadian woman since 2022. It marks an incredible comeback for the athlete, who has struggled to return from injury over the past few years. DeBues-Stafford was the only Canadian to advance out of the heats in the women’s 1,500m.

Kipyegon set her latest world record at the Prefontaine Classic (Eugene Diamond League) at 3:48.68 just this summer, and she hasn’t lost a 1,500m race since June 2021.  

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