Fantastic record for Kipyegon and victory for Katir in Florence

A splendid 1,500 women's world record presided over, in Florence, the third appointment of the Diamond League. The Kenyan Faith Kipyegon (3:49.11) dethroned the Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba (3:50.07), the queen of the test since July 17, 2015, in Monaco. Since last year, also in Monaco, Kipyegon had the second best mark in history (3:50.37).

From then on, the quality and regularity of his performances made us think, augur the world record. The Kenyan has crossed a border of fire. For the first time a woman runs the 1,500 in less than 3:50.00. He flew, impressive, with the same faith as his name, over the runway as over feathers and left the always formidable Laura Muir far away (3:57.09). Marta García, fourteenth with 4:07.21, personal best, will be able to say: “I was there”.

And in his season premiere, Mo Katir prevailed in some 5,000 meters of high flights. Jakob Ingebrigtsen was not in the running, but almost no one else was missing on stage. Katir ran with great intelligence, supported by a great and early state of form that allows you to play with the variables that you want.

He controlled the test, glance to the right, glance to the left, stride more, stride less, and resisted the fierce final attack of Yomif Kejelcha to win with 12:52.09, with the Ethiopian three hundredths behind. A mark not far from his superb Spanish record of 12:50.79, achieved precisely in Florence on June 10, 2021. If Katir is in such a remarkable condition at the very dawn of the campaign, one can think, in the course of his zenith, of a record lower than 12:50.00.

The race was imposing as a whole, with a large pack of ambitious men, crowded together, in a position to win. Thirteen was the lucky number. The first 13 were all under 13 minutes. The other Spaniard, Thierry Ndikumwenayo, closed the field with 12:59.03.