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| Faith Kipyegon and her pacemaker during the Breaking4. Photo: Imago |
Faith Kipyegon failed in her bid to make history when she did not manage to run a mile under four minutes but she has reserved special praise for certain individuals.
Multiple world and Olympics champion Faith Kipyegon has achieved virtually everything over the 1,500m distance but she has still been testing the limits
One of those was in June when she attempted to be the first woman to run a mile under four minutes in a race dubbed Breaking4.
Donning a special gear and shoes, Kipyegon was backed by 13 pacemakers at the Stade Sebastien Charlety in Paris on June 26, but she failed in her attempt, clocking 4:06.42 after a great run.
Looking back four months later, Kipyegon says she might not have managed to make history but what made it more special is the fact that she was backed by an elite group of pacemakers who comprise some of the world’s top middle-distance runners.
The pacemakers included 11 men, led by American Grant Fisher, the world record holder in the short track 3000m and 5000m, as well as distance specialists such as Cooper Teare (12:54 in 5000m), Craig Engels (3:51.60 mile), Australia’s Stewart McSweyn (3:48.37 mile), Dutch stars Niels Laros (3:29 in 3,000m) and Stefan Nillessen (3:29 in 1,500m), Irishman Cathal Doyle (3:53 mile), and Briton Elliot Giles (3:49.16 mile).
Faith Kipyegon Reserved Special Praise for Her Pacers
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| Faith Kipyegon salutes fans after her failed Breaking4 attempt. Photo: Imago |
Kenya’s Wycliffe Kinyamal, the two-time Commonwealth 800m champion, Olympics bronze medalist and world 800m silver medalist Georgia Hunter Bell with Ugandan 800m specialist Halimah Nakaayi (PB 1:57) also part of the lineup.
“I was so grateful to the pacemakers…the best runners in the world for coming to help me to dare the dream of running under four minutes,” said Kipyegon of her pacemakers who she has termed the ‘best team ever.”
“That was truly special to have Niels Laros inside the race and Grant Fisher and the rest of the team. That was so incredible, you know. I was not expecting to have such high-class athletes pacing the Breaking4,” she added, regarding the race that was organized and backed by her sponsors Nike.
“For them to just come and help me out and the ladies Georgia Bell and Jemma Reekie that was really special. I felt so grateful to think that they came out to help me.”
Kipyegon may have missed the mark but she expressed a willingness to try out again in the near future although she followed that disappointment with a new world record in 1,500m, a fourth world title over the distance, before defending her Athlos crown to end the season in style.
- Joel Omotto
