Faith Kipyegon on Sunday, October 1, lost the World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 in Latvia.
Kipyegon finished third in the race with Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji taking the first position in a World Record time of 4:23.06.
After winning gold medals consecutively in 2023, Faith Kipyegon suffered her first defeat of 2023 in her final race of the year in the mile at the World Road Running Championships.
Additionally, she is a 3-time 1500m World Champion. Ahead of the Sunday race, she was eyeing her fourth gold medal.
Notably, Diribe aged 21 years old, rose to her first senior title after winning the race.
“Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji blazes to a 4:21.00 world record to grab a surprise gold in the women’s to-road mile,” World Athletics said in a statement.
Freweyni Hailu finished second with a record time of 4:23.06 while Kipyegon finished third with a record time of 4:24.13.
Nelly Chirchir a Kenyan finished fourth with a 4:31.18.
Also Read: Faith Kipyegon Lifts Gold: from Walking to School in Rural Kenya to Setting World Athletics Alight
American Nikki Hiltz held the world record since April 25, 2023 when she clocked 4:27 in Des Moines, Lowa.
Medals
Additionally, Kenya garnered a gold from Beatrice Chebet after winning 5km women race in the ongoing World Athletics Road Running Championships Riga 23 on Sunday 1.
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk came second in the 5km race and garnered a silver medal.
In the men’s 5km race, Nicholas Kipkorir came third and managed to get a bronze medal. This brought a total of five medals in the first 3 completed races.
Faith Kipyegon holds the world record for 1500m.
In the 2016 Olympics and 2020 Tokyo Olympics she won Gold in the 1500m race. In 2023, she broke the record in the world athletics championships held in Budapest clocking a 3:49.11 record time.
Also, she broke the 5000m record in the same world athletic championships in 14:05.20.
As such, President William Ruto while lauding Kipyegon for the job well done awarded her a house worth Ksh6 million, and a Ksh5 million cash prize in recognition of her record-breaking achievements.
“She has won and broken two world records in 1,500 meters and 5,000 metres. The government of Kenya is going to award her Ksh5 million for the 1,500 metres record and we are going to give her a house worth Ksh6 million in appreciation of the second 5,000 metres record,” Ruto said.
