If you thought the women’s 1,500 meters at the U.S. Olympic Trials was speedy and exciting, you should have seen Sunday’s Diamond League race in Paris.
Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon broke her own world record, running 3:49.04 and showing that her dominance has not diminished even after some injury problems. The surprise was how fast the rest of the field ran, especially Aussie Jessica Hull, who doggedly stuck behind Kipyegon the first 3 1/2 laps and then held on the best she could for a huge PR — 3:50.83.
In all, 12 of the 13 runners in the field broke 4 minutes — including Under Armour Dark Sky Distance’s Susan Ejore. The Kenyan Olympian who trains in Flagstaff also ran a personal best, 3:57.26.
Realistically, no one can touch Kipyegon in the 1,500, but Ejore has shown she has a medal shot in Paris, as does Flagstaff’s Nikki Hiltz, the U.S. Olympic Trials champ (3:55.33, the second fastest time ever by an American).
Newly minted Olympic steeplechaser Matt Wilkinson, of Dark Sky, made his Diamond League debut Sunday. But he ran the 3,000 meters — sans barriers. Wilkinson finished seventh in 7:38.18 in a race won by Kenya’s Jacob Krop (7:28). Sean McGorty was the top American in third place at 7:35.63.
Dark Sky’s Adva Cohen, of Israel, finished 10th in the Paris women’s steeplechase in 9:35.45.
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