Faith Kipyegon Becomes Kenya's First Gold Medallist in Oregon
Olympic champion, Faith Kipyegon has taken the first position in the women's 1500m in the ongoing World Athletics Championships in Oregon.
Leah Mukangai 
Kipyegon maintained her title with a time of 3:52.96. Kipyegon's time is the 10th fastest ever and the second fastest in the United States, following her time of 3:52.59 at the 2022 Prefontaine Meet.
Kipyegon outpaced Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay, clocking 3:54.52 for bronze, while Britain's Laura Muir finished third in 3:55.28.
Ethiopia's Gudaf Tsegay. PHOTO FILE
Tsegay took over the pacing duties at the gun, bolting to the front alongside compatriot Freweyni Hailu, with Kipyegon clinging to their coattails. The Kenyan hero was patient, preying on the two Ethiopians and waiting for the right moment to strike. Kipyegon bolted to the front on the second lap, sensing that the two leaders were planning to close her out from the inside lane.
She picked up the pace and took the lead, with Tsegay close behind. Kipyegon set her marker at the bell, quickening the pace slightly. Tsegay looked behind her for her teammate, but she couldn't see her, so she threw her hands up in pain. It was Kipyegon time at this point.
Kipyegon earned her second gold medal, tying her with three other runners - Hassiba Boulmerka (Algeria), Tatyana Tomashova (Russia), and Maryam Jamal (Bahrain - who have previously achieved similar results over the distance.
Kipyegon's fourth gold medal in the 1,500, following silvers in 2015 and 2019, makes her the first runner to win four medals in the event. Winnie Chebet, Africa's champion, finished last in 4:15.13.
