)
Faith Kipyegon has explained why breaking the 5000m world record remains to be a surprising occurrence to her, a feat that left her in tears.
Double world record holder Faith Kipyegon explained her reason for crying after she broke the 5000m world record at the Diamond League Meeting in Paris, France earlier this year.
Speaking on Sport On, a show on NTV, Kipyegon explained that she just wanted to lower her Personal Best time in the 5000m and the world record was nowhere in her plans.
)
08:00 - 20.10.2023
ATHLETICS Faith Kipyegon, Mary Moraa among Kenyan heroes set to be feted at Mashujaa Day celebrations
Multiple world and Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon and world 800m champion Mary Moraa are among Kenyan sporting heroes past and present set to be honoured on Mashujaa Day.
The 29-year-old was aware that Ethiopian rival Letesenbet Gidey was going for the record and she was not in a hurry to pursue it too since the last time she had run the 5000m was back in 2015.
Kipyegon was just fresh from setting the 1500m world record at the Diamond League Meeting in Florence and no one expected her to break the 5000m world record, not even herself.
She obliterated the strong field, clocking 14:05.20 to win the race in a world record time. However, the record has since been shattered by another Ethiopian, Gudaf Tsegay, who put up a good fight to win the 5000m race at the Prefontaine Classic.
“It was not my plan to break the 5000m world record in Paris. I told my manager of my plans to run the 5000m and he agreed to look for a race so I could lower my Personal Best time.
"I did a lot of long runs and endurance and I had that energy and I knew that when I went to run, I would do my best.
"After I went to Paris, I was surprised to get that world record. It was surprising and I don’t think my interview after that world record was good…I cried during the whole interview process. It was something that surprised me a lot,” she explained.
)
17:30 - 19.10.2023
ATHLETICS Ferdinand Omanyala and co. learn of busy 2023/2024 calendar as Athletics Kenya unveil schedule
Faith Kipyegon, Ferdinand Omanyala and co. will now be able to know the events Athletics Kenya has lined up for them for the 2023/2024 season.
Kipyegon narrated that throughout the race, she did not even think of the world record and it was until the final 100m that she knew she would shatter the world record.
“I didn’t know the world record at the time and I just kept running because Gidey was going for the world record and I decided to just stick with her and see the time I would post at the finish line.
"I then decided to move to the front and help her push but I wasn’t aware that it was the last lap.
)
19:38 - 18.10.2023
ATHLETICS Veteran athletics coach explains why Kipyegon will be at the ‘top of the world’ in marathon
Athletics coach Stephen Mwaniki has given reasons why Faith Kipyegon will have a successful marathon career once she makes the switch from track.
"With 100m to go, I heard the bell and I just kicked and I realised that it was the world record…it was surprising,” she narrated.
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)