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Faith Kipyegon faces a tough challenge from Jess Hull in Rome as she defends her 1500m Diamond Trophy title.
World record holder Faith Kipyegon will continue her quest for Diamond League glory at the Pietro Mennea Golden Gala in Rome this Friday, but she faces a formidable challenge from Olympic rival Jess Hull.
The Kenyan star, in her defense of the 1500m Diamond Trophy, must keep a close eye on Hull, who has emerged as one of the few athletes capable of pushing Kipyegon to her limits.
Kipyegon, the undisputed queen of middle-distance running, has been in scintillating form over the past two seasons. In 2023 she made history by setting world records in three different disciplines, cementing her status as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
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04:30 - 30.08.2024
5 top battles to look out for at Rome Diamond League
The Rome Diamond League will take place on Friday and the event has attracted some of the world’s finest athletes, setting up epic battles in various races.
She carried that momentum into 2024, winning her third consecutive Olympic gold medal in Paris. Her only Diamond League appearance this season was also in Paris, where she shattered her own 1500m world record, clocking a breathtaking 3:49.04.
Despite her impressive achievements, Kipyegon’s place in the Diamond League Final is not yet secure. Currently ranked 11th in the standings, she needs another strong performance in Rome to guarantee her spot in the final in Brussels on September 13th-14th.
The competition will be fierce, with a field stacked with talent, including in-form Ethiopian Diribe Welteji and Italian star Nadia Batocletti. However, it is Jess Hull who poses the most significant threat to Kipyegon’s dominance.
Hull, an Australian middle-distance sensation, has been in sensational form this season. At the Paris Diamond League, she pushed Kipyegon to her absolute limit, finishing second with a remarkable time of 3:50.83, the fifth-fastest in history.
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05:30 - 30.08.2024
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That performance marked a five-second improvement on her previous personal best and established her as one of the top contenders in the 1500m. Hull’s confidence has only grown since then, as she went on to break the 2000m world record in Monaco and became the first Australian woman to medal in an Olympic 1500m final.
The rivalry between Kipyegon and Hull is shaping up to be one of the most exciting storylines in athletics.
Kipyegon’s world record of 3:49.04, set in Paris earlier this year, was achieved under intense pressure, with Hull hot on her heels.
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09:30 - 30.08.2024
American sprint legend bemoans lack of competition in track and field
The former world and Olympics champion has slammed the obsession with fast times and records in athletics for killing the competitiveness of the sport.
While Kipyegon managed to hold off her challenger, the margin of victory was less than two seconds, a stark contrast to the nearly eight-second gap she enjoyed when she first broke the world record at this meeting last summer.
As the two athletes prepare to face off again in Rome, the stakes are higher than ever. Kipyegon is chasing history, aiming to become only the third woman to break the 1500m world record three or more times.
However, Hull is more than just a competitor; she is a genuine threat to Kipyegon’s supremacy. If Hull can maintain her current form, there is every possibility that she could join Kipyegon as the only women to dip under 3:50.
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13:30 - 29.08.2024
BREAKING: Kishane Thompson pulls out of epic Rome clash against Kerley, Omanyala, Jacobs & Coleman
The Olympic 100m silver medalist has pulled out of the Rome Diamond League classic just days after he also withdrew from the Silesia clash.
Beyond Hull, Kipyegon will also need to fend off challenges from a strong field that includes Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu and Birke Haylom, as well as Kenya’s Nelly Chepchirchir.
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