Kipyegon and Girma smash world records in dazzling Paris Diamond League meet

PARIS :Kenya's Faith Kipyegon shattered the world record in the women's 5,000 metres at the Paris Diamond League meeting on Friday in her first race at the distance in eight years just a week after breaking the world mark in the 1,500m.

It was one of three records to fall, with Lamecha Girma of Ethiopia smashing the 3,000m steeplechase record and Norway's Jakob Ingebrigtsen running a world's best in the two-mile race.

Kipyegon finished in 14 minutes 5.20 seconds after pulling away from Letesenbet Gidey over the final 400 metres of a spirited battle at Charlety Stadium to break the Ethiopian's record of 14:06.62 set on Oct. 7, 2020, in Valencia.

The 29-year-old Kipyegon, two-time Olympic champion in the 1,500m, sprinted the final lap in about 60 seconds to set the record in an event she had only run twice before in 2015.

"I did not think about the world record. I do not know how I made it. I just focused on the green light and tried to stay relaxed and enjoy the race," said Kipyegon.

"... when I saw that it was a world record I was so surprised. It was all about giving my best. I just wanted to improve on my personal best, the world record was not my plan."

Girma, the Olympic and world silver medallist, pulled away from the field well before the final bell before crossing in seven minutes 52.11 seconds, lowering the mark of 7:53.63 set by Qatar's Saif Saaeed Shaheen on Sept. 3, 2004 in Brussels.

Japan's Ryuji Miura was some 18 seconds back in second.

"I'm feeling so happy. Happy and very proud," Girma said. "I felt so fast during the race, so confident. The world record is not a surprise, I planned to beat it tonight in Paris.

"It's a result of a full determination."

AMAZING FEELING

Ingebrigtsen, the Olympic 1,500m champion,