Kenyan Faith Kipyegon, world record holder in the distance, won a third title of world champion in the 1,500m on Tuesday in Budapest. The 29-year-old double Olympic champion finished ahead of Ethiopian Diribe Welteji and Dutch Sifan Hassan.
Untouchable, Kipyegon set a steady pace then gradually accelerated, no one being able to follow her on the last lap, to cut the line in 3 min 54 sec 87.
The Kenyan, who this year seized world records for the 1,500 m (3:49.11 in Florence on June 2), the 5,000 m (14:05.20 in Paris on June 9) and the mile (about 1,616 m, 4 :07.64 in Monaco on July 21), reigns over the world middle distance. She will aim for a double in Budapest, where she also competes in the 5,000m.
Hassan can console herself with the bronze after the cruel end of the 10,000m on Saturday where she fell a few meters from the finish, while she was fighting for the title. The Dutch will also line up in the 5,000m.
At 21, Welteji confirms his great talent with a first international medal, after taking 4th place in the world in the 800m last year in Eugene (Oregon, United States).
