THE T&FN FORMCHART predicted a 1-2-3 of Faith Kipyegon–Gudaf Tsegay–Laura Muir (with original No. 3 pick/reigning champion Sifan Hassan opting late not to defend her title). That’s the order they crossed the line as the Kenyan took her fourth global gold to follow on from her ’16 & ’21 OG wins and ’17 WC title.
Kipyegon had the mantle of favorite thrust upon her shoulders not just because of her Tokyo victory but also in the wake of her stunning 3:52.59 at Pre back in May, the No. 5 all-time mark.
Although she hadn’t run another metric mile before returning to Hayward Field, she cemented her status as the greatest 1500 runner of the century with a stunning turn of speed from just over a furlong out to which none of her rivals could reply.
The race started at a frantic pace as Ethiopia’s Tsegay tore through the opening quarter in 58.82, more than a second inside the WR pace of 60.31 in her compatriot Genzebe Dibaba’s 3:50.07 in ’15.
Followed by only Kipyegon, Muir and another Ethiopian, Hirut Meshesha, as the rest of the field became quickly detached, Tsegay continued to dictate an electrifying pace, presumably intent on trying to take the sting out of Kipyegon’s renowned sprint finish, and passed 800 in 2:03.18, compared to Dibaba’s split of 2:04.52.
Meshesha started to drift backwards early on the third lap, eventually finishing 12th, but Kipyegon and Muir stayed on Tsegay’s heels with the former even clipping them slightly on a couple of occasions, much to Tsegay’s clear irritation.
With the bell being reached in 2:51.76, Kipyegon still looked supremely confident and comfortable, and started to draw up on the right shoulder of Tsegay before glancing over to check on the status of the visibly straining Muir.
With Tsegay now grimacing, and with 250 to go, Kipyegon smoothly slid around her rival headed for home, finding another gear that neither Tsegay nor Muir had at hand.
Kipyegon crossed the line in 3:52.96, the No. 6 performance in history, while Tsegay and Muir followed her home in 3:54.52 and 3:55.28, both just shy of their PRs.
“This was my big target. I did do it. I was really looking forward to this championship. I was really, really prepared for this race. It was my big fish in the river for this season,” reflected the winner.
The Kenyan, who has never been beaten by Tsegay in their 13 head-to-head meetings, added, “To tell you the truth I knew the Ethiopian lady was very fast and, of course, I didn’t know before the race how she was going to run but I knew that she is a frontrunner, and she pushed the pace and made it very quick.”
Inevitably with such times being posted, talk turned to the possibility Kipyegon could attempt to break the WR. It’s possible she may take a tilt at it at the forthcoming Monaco DL (August 10) but for the moment she batted away any speculation.
“I can’t talk about it right now. Let me focus myself and see what is possible. I will be trying my best to lower my personal best and to run a good race,” she commented.
Behind the medalists, USATF winner Sinclaire Johnson — in her major international championship debut — was 6th in 4:01.63, her second-best time ever. Teammate Cory McGee was 10th in 4:03.70.
The big upset in the semis was the failure of Tokyo finalist Elle St. Pierre to advance. She was 11th in 4:09.84, although she has not looked in her best form in subsequent races, including at the Nationals, since going sub-4 for 6th at Pre.
WOMEN’S 1500 RESULTS
FINAL (July 18)
(temperature 77F/25C; humidity 46%)
1. Faith Kipyegon (Ken) 3:52.96 (x, 6 W)
(15.51, 30.29, 61.15);
2. Gudaf Tsegay (Eth) 3:54.52
(16.09, 31.56, 62.76) (58.82, 64.36 [2:03.18], 64.51 [3:07.69]);
3. Laura Muir (GB) 3:55.28
(16.36, 31.85, 63.45);
4. Freweyni Hailu (Eth) 4:01.28;
5. Sofia Ennaoui (Pol) 4:01.43;
6. Sinclaire Johnson (US) 4:01.63
(15.77, 31.78, 64.34);
7. Jessica Hull (Aus) 4:01.82;
8. Winnie Nanyondo (Uga) 4:01.98;
9. Georgia Griffith (Aus) 4:03.26;
10. Cory McGee (US) 4:03.70
(17.69, 34.30, 67.01);
11. Marta Pérez (Spa) 4:04.25;
12. Hirut Meshesha (Eth) 4:05.86;
13. Winny Chebet (Ken) 4:15.13.
HEATS (July 15)
I–1. Meshesha 4:07.05; 2. Muir 4:07.53; 3. Griffith 4:07.65; 4. Johnson 4:07.68; 5. Gaia Sabbatini (Ita) 4:07.82; 6. Kristiina Mäki (CzR) 4:08.43; 7. Marta Pen Freitas (Por) 4:08.58; 8. Yolanda Ngarambe (Swe) 4:09.15; 9. Judy Kiyeng (Ken) 4:09.30; 10. Lucia Stafford (Can) 4:09.67; 11. Elise Vanderelst (Bel) 4:10.45; 12. Sarah Healy (Ire) 4:11.31; 13. Şilan Ayyıldız (Tur) 4:12.67; 14. Ran Urabe (Jpn) 4:14.82.
II–1. Kipyegon 4:04.53; 2. Hull 4:04.68; 3. Hailu 4:04.85; 4. Elle St. Pierre (US) 4:04.94; 5. Hanna Klein (Ger) 4:05.13; 6. Adelle Tracey (GB) 4:05.14; 7. Nozomi Tanaka (Jpn) 4:05.30; 8. Pérez 4:05.92; 9. Hanna Hermansson (Swe) 4:06.30 PR; 10. Katie Snowden (GB) 4:06.92; 11. Laura Galván (Mex) 4:07.25; 12. Sintayehu Vissa (Ita) 4:07.33; 13. Natalia Hawthorn (Can) 4:07.37; 14. Anjelina Nadai Lohalith (SSD) 4:23.84 NR.
III–1. Tsegay 4:02.68; 2. Chebet 4:03.12; 3. Linden Hall (Aus) 4:03.21; 4. Ennaoui 4:03.52; 5. Katharina Trost (Ger) 4:03.53 PR; 6. McGee 4:03.61; 7. Nanyondo 4:03.81; 8. Diana Mezuliáníková (CzR) 4:06.55; 9. Edina Jebitok (Ken) 4:07.12; 10. Federica Del Buono (Ita) 4:08.42; 11. Melissa Courtney-Bryant (GB) 4:09.07; 12. Nathalie Blomqvist (Fin) 4:11.98; 13. Alma Cortes (Mex) 4:13.92; 14. Greza Bakraqi (KOS) 4:22.77.
SEMIS (July 16)
I–1. Tsegay 4:01.28; 2. Muir 4:01.78; 3. Hull 4:01.81; 4. Hailu 4:02.28; 5. McGee 4:02.74; 6. Chebet 4:03.08; 7. Pérez 4:04.24; 8. Klein 4:04.62; 9. Hall 4:04.65; 10. Hermansson 4:06.70; 11. Elle St. Pierre 4:09.84; 12. Mäki 4:21.67.
II–1. Kipyegon 4:03.98; 2. Meshesha 4:04.05; 3. Johnson 4:04.51; 4. Griffith 4:05.16; 5. Ennaoui 4:05.17; 6. Tanaka 4:05.79; 7. Trost 4:05.85; 8. Tracey 4:06.96; 9. Mezuliáníková 4:07.62; 10. Snowden 4:08.29;… dnf—Nanyondo (advanced on appeal);… dq[pushing]—Sabbatini. ◻︎