Ore, Eugene.At the Prefontaine Classic on Saturday, Kenyan Faith Kipyegon established a world record in the 1,500-meter race with a time of 3 minutes, 48.68 seconds.
Three-time Olympic champion Kipyegon broke her own mark of 3:49.04, which she had set prior to the Paris Games in July of last year.
With the crowd cheering him on, Kipyegon, 31, ran alone down the final stretch of Hayward Field. She enveloped herself in the Kenyan flag after she crossed the finish line.
Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia finished second in 3:51.44.
Kipyegon’s attempt to become the first female to run a mile in less than four minutes was unsuccessful last month. She completed the fastest mile ever run by a woman at Stade Charl Ty in Paris in 4:06.42.
Because the Nike-sponsored race was unofficial, her time will not be recognized even though it beat her world record of 4:07.64.
The 1,500 has also been won by Kipyegon at the last three World Championships. Last summer, she placed second in the 5,000-meter race in the Olympics in Paris.
http://apnews.com/sports is the AP sports website.
___