Prolific Kenyan athlete Faith Kipyegon has lost the women’s mile at the inaugural World Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia, after finishing third.
Kipyegon was eyeing her fourth world record in what had been an undefeated season.
The victory went to Diribe Welteji, who clinched the Women’s Road Mile title after clocking 4:21.0.
“Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji blazes to a 4:21.00 world record to grab a surprise gold in the women’s to-road mile,” World Athletics remarked on the upset.
Faith Kipyego reacts after losing Women Mile in Latvia.
Photo
Kenya Track & Field
Before Sunday’s race, the road mile’s world record was held by American Nikki Hiltz.
Hiltz achieved the world record after clocking 4:27 minutes in Des Moines, Iowa, United States on April 25.
Olympic marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir also participated in the road mile event where she finished fourth.
Kenya had earlier clinched gold and silver in the women’s 5 5-kilometre race.
Beatrice Chebet from Kenya became the first woman in history to win the 5-kilometre at the inaugural World Running Championship after she clocked 14:35 minutes.
Lilian Rengeruk also from Kenya bagged silver while the third position went to Ejgayehu Taye from Ethiopia.
Kenya was sub-par in the 5-kilometre men’s race with Hagos Gebrhiwet and Yomif Kejelcha all from Ethiopia bagging gold and silver respectively.
The World Road Running Championships in Riga, which attracted over 300 participants from various corners of the globe, also witnessed the participation of thousands of recreational runners.
