PARIS, FRANCE, June 09 – For the second Friday in a row, Faith Kipyegon tore down a venerable World Record. Following up on her barrier-breaking 1500 in Florence a week earlier, the 2-time Olympic champion clocked 14:05.20 to set a new 5000 standard at the Paris Diamond League stop on a warm evening in Stade Charléty.
Running her first 5000 since ’15, the Kenyan patiently followed in the wake of the pacesetters and reigning WR-holder Letesenbet Gidey in the early going. Steeplechaser Beatrice Chepkoech, the third WR-holder in the field, set the pace through 3000 in 8:31.91 before stepping aside. Separating from the rest of the field, Gidey continued to press the pace, but couldn’t shake Kipyegon, who finally moved to the front with 600 to go.
The Ethiopian didn’t back down, however, and stuck to her rival’s heels until the final straightaway, when Kipyegon used a burst of speed to secure the win and wrap up the record. She covered the last lap in 61.1 and the final 200 in 28.7 and immediately collapsed to the track, her face in her hands and tears flowing, clearly overcome with the emotion of having beaten Gidey’s 14:06.62 standard from ’20.
“I just focused on the green light and tried to stay relaxed and enjoy the race,” she said. “When I saw that it was a World Record, I was so surprised. It was all about giving my best. I just wanted to improve on my PB [14:31.95], the WR was not my plan. I just ran after Gidey, she is an amazing lady.”
That amazing lady clocked 14:07.94, not far off her previous best, and the third-fastest clocking in history, while her countrywoman Ejgayehu Taye was next across the line in 14:13.31, moving to No. 7 on the all-time list.
The 400 was another highly anticipated women’s race, and while it didn’t deliver in the record department, it did produce a thrilling finish. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone came to Paris for her first Diamond League meet since ’19, and only her second meet of the year (after an indoor 60 in Boston in early February)
There was some speculation — unwarranted — that she might challenge Marita Koch’s ’85 WR of 47.60. Her staggering 50.68 WR in the 400H at last year’s WC (not to mention her 47.91 anchor on the 4×4 at the same meet) ignited chatter over what the New Jersey native might be able to do for a lap without barriers.
McLaughlin-Levrone blasted out of the blocks and tore through the first 100 in 11.59, making up the stagger on Olympic and WC silver medalist Marileidy Paulino before they even came off the first curve. She continued the scalding pace by reaching 200 in 22.66, well clear of Paulino (23.43). Reaching 300 in 34.94, McLaughlin-Levrone started to lose momentum. Her Dominican rival came charging and took the lead at 350m, pulling away for a convincing win in 49.12.
Despite a grueling final 100, McLaughlin-Levrone was rewarded for her efforts with a 49.71 PR, improving on the 50.07 she ran as a Kentucky frosh in 2018.
“I’m really happy with my season opener, a PR,” she said. “A few things to clean up, but for 2023, it’s a good start. I felt good. I felt strong getting out. Obviously there are things to work on in the back end, but my coach wanted me to take it out and I can’t complain about that first 200.”
She attributed her late-race fade to “just not enough racing,” adding that, “obviously after a few races you kinda get the feel for that lactic acid. First race, I knew it was to be expected. I’m excited to go home, clean some things up and come back.”
OG/WC silver medalist Keely Hodgkinson clocked 1:55.77 in the 800 to break her own British Record and win by more than 2 seconds over Ajee’ Wilson (1:58.16).
“My coach knew I was in that kind of shape, but first race out, you don’t know what’s going to happen,” said Hodgkinson, who ran aggressively in her first competition since winning the Euro Indoor title in March. “I just really wanted to commit today, and it really paid off.”
Olympic discus champion Valerie Allman lead the way on the field, hitting 226-6 (69.04) in the fourth round, along with two other throws over 68m. “It’s always exciting to win, but it truly gives you deep confidence to have a good series,” said Allman after reaching a comfortable margin over Sandra Perković, who hit 213-10 (65.18). “I’m going to walk away feeling proud of that and excited to keep building on that.”
Australians won the high jump and pole vault, with Nicola Olyslagers clearing 6-6 ¾ (2.00) on her third attempt in the former and Nina Kennedy going over 15-7¾ (4.77) on her first try in the latter.
PARIS DL WOMEN’S RESULTS
200(-0.4): 1. Gabby Thomas (US) 22.05; 2. Abby Steiner (US) 22.34; 3. Marie-Josée Ta Lou (CI) 22.34; 4. Dina Asher-Smith (GB) 22.57; 5. Kayla White (US) 22.67; 6. Jenna Prandini (US) 22.76; 7. Tamara Clark (US) 22.86; 8. Gémima Joseph (Fra) 23.34.
400: 1. Marileidy Paulino (DR) 49.12; 2. Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone (US) 49.71 PR; 3. Salwa Eid Naser (Bhr) 49.95; 4. Natalia Kaczmarek (Pol) 50.10; 5. Lieke Klaver (Neth) 50.32; 6. Candice McLeod (Jam) 50.80; 7. Anna Hall (US) 50.82 PR; 8. Ama Pipi (GB) 51.76.
800: 1. Keely Hodgkinson (GB) 1:55.77 NR (WL); 2. Ajee’ Wilson (US) 1:58.16 (AL);
3. Natoya Goule (Jam) 1:58.23; 4. Catriona Bisset (Aus) 1:58.55; 5. Noélie Yarigo (Ben) 1:58.65 NR; 6. Halimah Nakaayi (Uga) 1:58.81; 7. Sage Hurta-Klecker (US) 1:59.01; 8. Léna Kandissounon (Fra) 1:59.65 PR; 9. Gabriela Gajanová (Svk) 1:59.86 PR; 10. Raevyn Rogers (US) 2:00.00; 11. Agnès Raharolahy (Fra) 2:00.14;… rabbit—Patrycja Wyciszkiewicz-Zawadzka (Pol) (57.35).
5000: 1. Faith Kipyegon (Ken) 14:05.20 WR (old WR 14:06.62 Letesenbet Gidey [Eth] ’20);
2. Letesenbet Gidey (Eth) 14:07.94 (3, 3 W) (11:21.93); 3. Ejgayehu Taye (Eth) 14:13.31 (x, 8 W);
4. Lilian Rengeruk (Ken) 14:23.05 PR; 5. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 14:23.45; 6. Margaret Kipkemboi (Ken) 14:23.67 PR; 7. Lemlem Hailu (Eth) 14:34.53 PR PR;
8. Alicia Monson (US) 14:34.88 (AL);
9. Agnes Jebet Ngetich (Ken) 14:36.70 PR; 10. Grace Loibach Nawowuna (Ken) 14:42.63 PR; 11. Laura Muir (GB) 14:48.14 PR; 12. Elly Henes (US) 15:04.54; 13. Whittni Morgan (US) 15:20.59;… rabbits—Sarah Lahti (Swe) (2:52.31), Beatrice Chepkoech (Ken) (5:42.04, 8:31.91).
Non-DL 4 x 100: 1. Spain 42.99; 2. France 43.50.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Nicola Olyslagers (Aus) 6-6¾ (2.00); 2. Vashti Cunningham (US) 6-5½ (1.97);
3. Angelina Topić (Ser) 6-5½ NR, NJR (=9, x WJ);
4. Iryna Gerashchenko (Ukr) 6-4¼ (1.94); 5. Morgan Lake (GB) 6-4¼; 6. Yuliia Levchenko (Ukr) 6-3¼ (1.91); 7. Nawal Meniker (Fra) 6-3¼; 8. Hall 6-3¼; 9. Nadezhda Dubovitskaya (Kaz) 6-1½ (1.87); 10. Elena Vallortigara (Ita) 5-10½ (1.79); 11. Solène Gicquel (Fra) 5-10½.
PV: 1. Nina Kennedy (Aus) 15-7¾ (4.77); 2. Margot Chevrier (Fra) 15-5½ (4.71) PR; 3. Katie Moon (US) 15-5½; 4. Wilma Murto (Fin) 15-1½ (4.61); 5. Sandi Morris (US) 15-1½ (4.61); 6. Emily Grove (US) 15-1½ (4.61); 7. Alysha Newman (Can) 14-7½ (4.46); 8. tie, Katerína Stefanídi (Gre) & Tina Šutej (Slo) 14-7½; 10. Roberta Bruni (Ita) 14-7½; 11. Marie-Julie Bonnin (Fra) 14-1¾ (4.31);… nh—Ninon Chapelle (Fra).
SP: 1. Auriol Dongmo (Por) 64-8½ (19.72); 2. Chase Ealey (US) 63-9 (19.43); 3. Maggie Ewen (US) 63-2¼ (19.26); 4. Danniel Thomas-Dodd (Jam) 63-2 (19.25); 5. Sara Gambetta (Ger) 62-7¼ (19.08) PR; 6. Jiayuan Song (Chn) 62-6½ (19.06); 7. Jessica Woodard (US) 61-5½ (18.73); 8. Fanny Roos (Swe) 60-6 (18.44); 9. Sarah Mitton (Can) 60-3 (18.36); 10. Jessica Schilder (Neth) 58-10¾ (17.95); 11. Adelaide Aquilla (US) 55-7¾ (16.96).
DT: 1. Valarie Allman (US) 226-6 (69.04) (213-8, f, 225-6, 226-6, f, 224-4) (65.12, f, 68.74, 69.04, f, 68.39); 2. Sandra Perković (Cro) 213-10 (65.18); 3. Kristin Pudenz (Ger) 206-3 (62.87); 4. Lagi Tausaga (US) 205-5 (62.62); 5. Melina Robert-Michon (Fra) 203-1 (61.91); 6. Claudine Vita (Ger) 202-8 (61.78); 7. Daisy Osakue (Ita) 194-0 (59.14); 8. Amanda Ngandu-Ntumba (Fra) 186-10 (56.95);… 3f—Liliana Cá (Por).
Non-DL HT: 1. Brooke Andersen (US) 253-0 (77.13); 2. Janee’ Kassanavoid (US) 245-2 (74.74); 3. Sara Fantini (Ita) 233-7 (71.21); 4. Rose Loga (Fra) 229-9 (70.04); 5. Alexandra Tavernier (Fra) 220-4 (67.16).
JT: 1. Haruka Kitaguchi (Jpn) 213-6 (65.09); 2. Kelsey-Lee Barber (Aus) 205-2 (62.54); 3. Yulenmis Aguilar (Cub) 198-10 (60.61); 4. Liveta Jasiūnaitė (Lit) 197-9 (60.28); 5. Christin Hussong (Ger) 194-0 (59.14); 6. Shiying Liu (Chn) 192-3 (58.61); 7. Mackenzie Little (Aus) 192-1 (58.54); 8. Maggie Malone (US) 189-2 (57.67); 9. Ariana Ince (US) 184-1 (56.12); 10. Elina Tzengko (Gre) 180-6 (55.02); 11. Sigrid Borge (Nor) 172-2 (52.49). ◻︎