Faith Kipyegon looking for more sweet memories at Paris Diamond League in Olympics rehearsal

Faith Kipyegon crossing the finishing lane | Photo Credit: IMAGO / NurPhoto

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Faith Kipyegon and Timothy Kitum among couples in Kenyan sports.

Faith Kipyegon looking for more sweet memories at Paris Diamond League in Olympics rehearsal

Joel Omotto 11:00 - 06.07.2024

Faith Kipyegon returns to Paris Diamond League where she set the second of her three world records in 2023 with hopes of more history ahead of the Olympics showdown.

Multiple world and Olympics champion Faith Kipyegon is set for her first international assignment of the year when she lines up at the Paris Diamond League on Sunday.

Paris holds good memories for Kipyegon as it where she broke the second of her three world records last year, having lowered the 5,000m mark in the City of Love.

However, she will be featuring in her specialty, the 1,500m this time, in what is her only event before she returns to the French capital for the Olympics.

Kipyegon’s season was delayed by an injury after pulling out of the Prefontaine Classic but recovered in time to feature at the Kenyan Olympics trials last month where she showed no signs of rustiness as she easily made the team for both the 1,500m and 5,000m.

She clocked 3:53.98 for first place in 1,500m at the trials which was much slower than the 3:50.72 she managed in her final race of 2023, the Diamond League Final in Eugene.

Few would be expecting Kipyegon to lower her own world record of 3:49.11 clocked in Florence, Italy in June 2023 given she is just returning, but another fast time cannot be ruled out after what was witnessed at the Olympics trials.

The mother of one will double in both 1,500m and 5,000m at the Olympics and the meeting in Paris gives her a chance to gauge her level of preparedness.

Kipyegon is up against Kenyan compatriot Susan Ejore, who will join her in Team Kenya for the Paris Olympics, British star and two-time Diamond League champion Laura Muir, Ethiopians Nigist Getachew and Hirut Meshesha, the African Games champion.

European champion Ciara Mageean from Northern Ireland and her compatriot Sarah Healy are among the other athletes set for the 1,500m race.

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