Olympic champions Faith Kipyegon and Beatrice Chebet opened their Wanda Diamond League campaigns with impressive victories in Xiamen on Saturday.
Kipyegon came within 0.23sec of breaking a decades-old world record in the women’s 1000m, finishing in 2min 29.21sec.
“It went how I wanted just to start my season in a good way,” said the Kenyan. “I wanted to do my personal best which was very close to the world record.”
Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet edged world record holder Gudaf Tsegay of Ethiopia to win the women’s 5000m, finishing in 14:27.12.
“I said just let me start my season well”, Chebet said. “I am so happy to see that my speed is still there.”
Tsegay said after the race that she was battling a “strong flu” but that she was happy and vowed to “come back strong”.
“Yesterday is gone, today is today, tomorrow is another day”, she said. “Everything is possible tomorrow.”
Three-time world champion Karsten Warholm opened his season in stunning style by breaking his own world best for 300m hurdles.
The 29-year-old Norwegian 400m hurdles world record holder crossed the finish line in a blistering 33.05 seconds, taking 0.21 seconds off his own mark set four years ago in the little-run event.
“I thought it was a very good race and a little bit surprised over how easy my legs were feeling out the last bend,” said Warholm, who won gold in the 400m hurdles at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and silver in Paris last year.
“This is a very good test for speed and hurdles so it is a very good first race for me,” he said.
“I am looking to win as much as I can.”
AFP
| Apr 26, 2025