Faith Kipyegon’s 1,500-meter world record highlights Florence Diamond League meet

By Israel LaRue

Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon, the double world and double Olympic gold medalist, broke the women’s 1,500-meter world record Friday at the Diamond League meet in Florence, running 3:49.11 to beat the time of 3:50.07 set by Genzebe Dibaba in 2015.

Fans in the stadium and watching the broadcast could see how close Kipyegon was to the world record as she gradually caught up to the pace lights. With 300 meters to go, it was obvious that the record would be broken. 

“I was not expecting to run this world record so early like this,” she said. “It just came as a surprise. I believed in the training I did, and I knew everything was possible.”

Kipyegon’s kick left eventual runner-up Laura Muir of Great Britain and the world record pace far behind. Muir finished 7.98 seconds behind in 3:57.09, and former Oregon Duck Jessica Hull was just behind in 3:57.29, an Australian record.

“When I heard the bell, I was feeling that I could still push more than that,” Kipyegon said. “I was really, really pushing, just hearing the crowd ‘go, go, go.’”

As she ran the last 100 meters, the crowd grew louder and louder and finally erupted once she crossed the finish line.

Other highlights at the meet included established American stars at the top of the podium and some up-and-coming American stars earning points in their first taste of international Diamond League competition. The highest-scoring athletes throughout the season will compete at the Prefontaine Classic, which is the Diamond League final, Sept. 16-17 at Hayward Field.

In the men’s 100, Fred Kerley won his third straight Diamond League race and second straight 100-meter event with a time of 9.94, well ahead of second-place Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya. The reigning 100m world champion has been dominating the event.

“The only person that can beat me is myself,” Kerley said.

The race got off to an uneasy start with the sprinters being held at the starting position for longer than usual, but that was no problem for Kerley as he got off to a great start. He was neck and neck with Akani Simbine for the first 30 meters, then separated himself from the field in the last 50 meters.

“Right now it’s being consistent,” Kerley said. “The times are going to come when peak season comes. Right now it’s not peak season – it’s just getting more races underneath the belt.”

In the men’s 110 hurdles, Grant Holloway bounced back from his loss last week at Rabat with a victory in 13.04. 

At Rabat, the race was reset multiple times because of false starts due to the crowd noise.

“I didn’t refocus after some of those false starts,” Holloway said. “I really took it personal this week, just to do training with loud music [and] being able to focus in on the start.”

Even though it looked like Holloway got off the blocks quickly, he said that he didn’t get off like he wanted to. He almost lost the race in the final 20 meters, as he did in Rabat, but he had just enough in the tank for the win. Jason Joseph of Switzerland pushed Holloway to the finish line, just .06 behind and setting a national record.

In the women’s pole vault, defending Olympic and world champion Katie Moon won with a jump of 4.71m to follow up her season-opening victory at Doha. 

“Back-to-back Diamond League wins is huge,” Moon said. “I had some great jumps and I’m really happy with them, but I definitely had some jumps that were not so great.”

Moon’s first attempt was a miss at 4.51m. She made her second attempt, then cleared 4.61m on her first attempt and 4.71m on her second. Tina Sutej of Slovenia also cleared 4.71, but she needed a third attempt, which turned out to be the difference in the standings.

Moon passed at 4.77, giving Sutej the chance to be in the lead, but Sutej missed all three attempts. Moon then failed to clear 4.82m.

In the men's high jump, JuVaughn Harrison showcased his clutch ability on his final attempt, winning with a jump of 2.32m. Harrison leads the Diamond League standings with 16 points.

Harrison needed three attempts to clear 2.24m, and he then battled South Korea’s Sanghyeok Woo the rest of the way.

“The level of high jump is always going to be good,” Harrison said. “I think we had a great competition today.”

Harrison took the lead at the 2.27 height because Woo needed two attempts to clear. They both made 2.30 on the first try, and the event came down to 2.32.

Woo missed all three attempts. Harrison missed his first two, but made the final one for the victory.

In the men’s 200, Erriyon Knighton, who is running his first full Diamond League season, won his second Diamond League meet with a time of 19.89.

“This will be my first full year doing it due to me not having school anymore,” Knighton said. “Now I can dedicate my time fully to my sport, to my career.”

The young American got out to an early lead 50 meters in, and his kick left the competition in the dust. Jereem Richards finished .39 behind Knighton.

In the women’s long jump, Tara Davis-Woodhall competed in her first international Diamond League meet, finishing second behind Larissa Iapichino in the women’s long jump with a jump of 6.74m.

After her first three jumps, Davis was sitting in fifth place with a mark of 6.54. On her fourth attempt, Davis launched herself into second place.

And Anna Hall, fresh from moving into fifth place on the all-time heptathlon charts with 6,988 points to win the Götzis Hypomeeting, competed in her first Diamond League event in the women’s 400-meter hurdles. She finished third in 54.42, behind Femke Bol of the Netherlands (meet record 52.43) and Shamier Little of the United States (53.38).

“It honestly feels surreal,” Hall said. “On the line I was kind of smiling at myself. I just [wanted] to enjoy that I’m here and take it all in.”

Hall’s first 200 meters were solid with her being in the top of the pack. The last 100 meters were a struggle as her legs were visibly shot.

“I think it gives me a little bit of confidence to know that I could not have my best race but still be competitive here,” she said. “So I’m excited about that and [hope to] race in the Diamond League a little bit more.”

Hall may be a heptathlete, but she has proven she can run in this event as well.

“A dream of mine would be to qualify for the Diamond League final in the 400 hurdles,” she said.