Faith Kipyegon defended her 1,500m title at the final of the World Championships in Budapest, Hungary on Tuesday, August 22.
The triple world record holder battled with some of the best athletes in the race as she chased Kenya’s first gold medal at the Budapest finals.
Faith Kipyegon won the race with 3:54.87, Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia who clocked 3:55.69 was second and one of the race’s favorites Sifan Hassan of Netherlands came third with 3:56:00.
With the win, Kipyegon extended her remarkable performance this season after breaking three world records, the 1,500m, 5,000m, and one-mile records.
The Pride of Kenya
President William Ruto led the country in celebrating Kipyegon’s win on the night that her compatriot Abraham Kibiwot only managed a bronze after a fall.
“Peerless, a legend and a once in a generation talent. Congratulations Faith Kipyegon for winning our first gold after defending the 1500m title for a 3rd time in a row in Budapest World Championship.
Well in Abraham Kibiwot, despite the heavy fall, for bagging Bronze in 3,000m Steeplechase,” the President said.
Transport Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen also praised the talented athlete for her achievement and for making the country proud.
“Well done Faith Kipyegon. Thank you for keeping our flag flying high. Proud of you and your amazing achievements,” noted Murkomen.
Faith Kipyegon: Eyes on the Prize
Kipyegon missed a chance of walking away with huge sums of money after she failed to break the 1,500m world record.
Further, Faith Kipyegon will be awarded for winning gold, in an electrifying race as she proved to the world that she was the greatest female 1,500m athlete of all time.
According to the World Athletics, athletes who set a world record will be eligible for a special award of US$100,000 (Ksh. 14,430,000).
To win this award, the performance must be an improvement on the existing World Athletics world record.
Further, World Athletics explains that performances that equal the existing world record will not be eligible for a world record award.
USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone and Sweden’s Mondo Duplantis are two of the most recent recipients of a world record award, following their performances at the World Athletics Championships Oregon in 2022.
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Aside from the world record programme, a total of US$8,498,000 in prize money will be on offer in Budapest.
Gold medal winners will receive US$70,000 (Ksh.10,101,000), Silver winners will get US$35,000 (Ksh.5,050,500) and bronze winners will walk away with US$22,000 (Ksh.2,886,000).
In addition, the other positions will be awarded as follows; fourth place: US$16,000 (Ksh.2,308,800), fifth place: US$11,000 (Ksh.1,587,300), sixth place: US$7000 (Ksh.1,010,100), seventh place: US$6000 (Ksh.865,800) and eighth place: US$5000 (Ksh.721,500).
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Budapest Relay Awards
The Kenya men’s national team for the 4x400m relay team is also participating in the Wolrd Athletics.
Under this category, the Kenyan team also stands a chance of winning different awards.
In the relays, US$80,000 (Ksh.11,544,000) will go to gold medal winners, US$40,000 (Ksh.5,772,000) to silver winners and US$20,000 (Ksh.2,886,000) to bronze winners.
Also, the fourth placed team will receive US$16,000 (Ksh.2,308,800) while the fifth placed team will get USD $12,000 (Ksh.1,731,600).
Further, sixth placed team will be awarded US$8000 (Ksh.1,154,400), seventh placed US$6000 (Ksh.865,800) and eighth placed US$4000 (Ksh.577,200).
