Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon once again shattered her own world record in the women's 1500m at the Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meeting held in Eugene, Oregon on July 5, 2025. Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic 1500m champion and triple world champion, powered through the finish line in three minutes 48.68 seconds, shaving 0.36 seconds off her previous best.
"First I want to thank God this was really special," declared Kipyegon, 31, in a media interview immediately after she set a new world record, underscoring the deep role of God's grace in her journey. This remarkable feat, achieved just over a week after the Nike Breaking 4 challenge where she attempted to run a mile in less than four minutes, showcased not only Kipyegon's physical might but also her resilient spirit.
Reflecting on her latest triumph, she humbly admitted, "I surprised myself today by doing that.. after one week of doing another one (the challenge) something special and today again something special so I really thank God". The Eugene meeting, also known as the Prefontaine Classic, was a star-studded affair, attracting 17 individual champions from the Paris Olympics and 14 world-record holders. Yet, it was the performances of Kipyegon and her compatriot, Beatrice Chebet, that truly captivated the global audience. Chebet, 25, simultaneously broke the women's 5,000m record with an incredible time of 13:58.06, becoming the first woman in history to run the heat under 14 minutes.
Kipyegon confidently stated her intention beforehand, "When I was coming here to Eugene, I was coming to prepare to run a world record. I'm so happy,". Her achievement marked her third world record, further solidifying her status as a double Olympic champion in both the 5,000m and 10,000m.
The bond between Kipyegon and Chebet is not merely one of national teammates; it's a testament to mutual support and shared faith. Faith lovingly referred to Beatrice as her "best friend," revealing that they often train together in the same area of Eldoret, Kenya.
Before their respective races, Kipyegon offered powerful words of encouragement to Chebet. "We have to believe in ourselves, dare to try and you never know what will happen after the finish line."
Kipyegon herself attested to being profoundly inspired by Chebet's groundbreaking sub-14-minute run, stating, "Beatrice really inspires me running under 14 minutes so now I'm inspiring others as well to know that we can still run faster than 3:48 so I know the next generation knows that everything is possible we only have to go out there and just run our race."
Chebet herself relished the Eugene race terming it as "one of the best days on the track" making history as the first woman to ever break the 14 minutes barrier in the 5,000m race. "I'm overwhelmed with gratitude - for the journey, the growth, and everything ahead. By nothing but God's grace. Psalm 23:5 (My Cup overflows)...dared to dream and turned it into reality," posted Chebet on her Instagram page.
Days before the Nike Breaking 4 Challenge in Paris on June 26, Kipyegon affirmed the central role prayer plays in her life. "I always pray, before going to bed, before going out for training and before racing because in everything we do, we put God first, before we do anything," revealed Kipyegon.
Kipyegon's race plan was meticulously executed, following the pacers and the wave lights designed to guide her to a record-breaking pace. She described her strategy as "just to execute as fast as I can... it was all about staying with the lights and just focus myself towards towards the finish line."
However, the journey was not without its challenges. The final lap, she confessed, was intensely difficult: "The last one was hot. I could feel like I have to push myself towards that finish line because you know all the ladies were very strong and I'm happy that when I run fast they also run fast so I'm so grateful to them."
The overwhelming reception from the crowd in Eugene deeply moved Kipyegon. As the last athlete on the track for the day's final event, she felt the palpable anticipation and support. "I almost cried because everybody was waiting for me... It felt so amazing that everybody was waiting for me to chase the world record and you know everybody cheering you up... I felt at home. After what I tried last week, it gave me motivation that I can still do better and I proved to them that everything is possible," she said.
Beyond her personal achievements, Faith Kipyegon views her platform as an opportunity to impact future generations. "I want to empower the next generation of girls to know that no matter where you come from, no matter what you know, you can push yourself to what you want to be and just be disciplined and work hard for everything you want."
Both athletes have also secured their spots for the September World Athletics Championships, with Faith set to compete as the defending champion in the 5000m race.
