The 31-year-old attempted to become the first woman to dip under the four-minute mark in the women's one-mile race, but her attempt fell short when she posted 4:06.42.
The multiple world record-holder was aiming to break the four-minute barrier, or at least run faster than her official mile world record of 4:07.64, set two years ago in Monaco. However, she fell short of the first goal, but achieved the latter.
Kipyegon was close to the target pace for the first half, reaching 400m in 1:00.20 and 800m in 2:00.75, at which point, pacemakers Jemma Reekie and Georgia Hunter Bell - the only women in the pace-making crew - dropped out of the pack.
The rest of the pacing group continued to run in specific diagonal line formations, but Kipyegon’s fatigue started to show on the third lap. She hit 1200m in 3:01.84 and dug deep and covered the final lap in about 63 seconds to cross the line in 4:06.42.
Speaking after completing the race, Kipyegon said: “I tried to be the first woman to run under four minutes. It’s only a matter of time before it happens - if not me, then maybe someone else.
"I will not lose hope; I will still go for it.”
Kipyegon disappointed Kipchoge Stadium was closed
After missing out on the record in Paris, Kipyegon headed to Eugene at the Prefontaine Classic - a Wanda Diamond League meeting - where she lowered her 1500m world record for a third year running, setting a new record of three minutes 48.68 seconds in her first Diamond League race in 1500m this season.
On returning home, Kipyegon bemoaned the ongoing lack of training facilities across the East African nation, saying they could deny opportunities to produce their best during competitive races.
“We athletes are faced with one problem, and I will not shy away to talk about it, since I was preparing to go and try to be the first woman to run under four, I went through a lot,” said a visibly emotional Kipyegon during a meeting with Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Sports Salim Mvurya.
She continued: “Especially on preparations, where to prepare, where to go to the track, where to train, I was so grateful and I want to thank the Moi School of Law in Eldoret, and the University of Eldoret, for providing me with their training facilities ahead of the Paris race.
“I don’t think if it was not about these facilities, I would be able to try and go for the world record, and I will only say I tried my best to be the best in the world with those two facilities, which were only available for my training.”
Kipyegon continued: “I was very disappointed Kipchoge Stadium was closed when I was training to try to be the first woman to break the world record.
"Sometimes, I feel so emotional to talk about it, this is not something someone like me needs to talk about, because you know, for those elite athletes, out there, all over the world, they have perfect facilities to train on.
“That is why nowadays we have high-profile competition all over the world, because you know, if you have good tracks, if you have good facilities to train, you can still even perform better than we do.
"I think my only request is about the track; we need a good track to train ahead of major competitions across the world.”
She concluded: “This is not only for us but the younger athletes, who look up to us. We hope one day, one time, they will get a better place to train.”
Kipyegon is the world record holder for the 1500 metres and the mile, and she is the former world record holder for the 5000 metres. Kipyegon is the only three-time Olympic champion in the 1500 metres, having won a gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro, 2020 Tokyo, and the 2024 Paris Olympics.
She also won a gold medal in the 1500 meters at the 2017, 2022, and 2023 World Championships and in the 2023 World Athletics Championships, as well as in the 5000 metres at the 2023 World Championships.
At the 2024 Paris Games, Kipyegon became the first athlete ever to win three consecutive gold medals in the 1500m women’s race, where she also set a new Olympic record. In addition to the 1500m, she had previously earned a silver medal in the women’s 5000m, after successfully appealing a disqualification.
As a junior, Kipyegon won gold medals at the 2011 and 2013 World Cross Country Championships and in the 1500m at the 2011 World Youth Championships and the 2012 World Junior Championships. Kipyegon is one of only 11 athletes to win world titles at the youth, junior, and senior levels of an athletic event.
