Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon on Friday shattered the women’s mile world record, while compatriot Ferdinand Omanyala won the men’s 100m in a photo finish at the Monaco Diamond League meet.
Kipyegon controlled the field and knocked almost five seconds off the world mark as she finished nearly seven seconds ahead of second-placed Ciara Mageean from Ireland.
The 29-year-old Kenyan won in 4 minutes, 7.64 seconds to smash Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan’s 2019 mark of 4:12.33.
Photo: AFP
Kipyegon has now broken three world records in two months, including the 1,500m and 5,000m.
“It was a blessing to do this with these ladies. I can see that they’re all happy for me and it’s so emotional,” she said.
Omanyala ran the men’s 100m in 9.92 seconds, one-tenth of a second ahead of Letsile Tebogo of Botswana, while Jamaica’s Ackeem Blake took third place.
“Tonight, I just confirmed what I am capable of,” Omanyala said after securing his first Diamond League victory in the 100m.
“I wanted a faster time, but [a] win is a win,” he said.
American Fred Kerley, who lost his first race of the season last week at the Silesia Diamond League, did not run.
Norwegian Karsten Warholm posted his second-best ever time in the 400m hurdles, clocking 46.51 seconds, one-tenth of a second faster than his own Diamond League record set in Oslo last month.
Alison Dos Santos from Brazil made a valiant effort to keep pace, but Warholm had a firm hold on the race from the start, sending a warning shot to his rivals ahead of the World Athletics Championships in Budapest next month.
“This is nice timing as the World Championships are just around the corner,” Warholm said. “Seeing that things are still working and I can go faster and faster every time, that means a lot.”
Jamaica’s Shericka Jackson scorched to victory in the 200m with 21.86 seconds, ahead of Julien Alfred from Saint Lucia.
“Oh, my execution, I do not think that the curve was as good as I wanted but I managed to go until the finish so it was good,” Jackson said.
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