Faith Kipyegon to Battle Three World Record Holders in Paris 5000m

• Faith Kipyegon will run the 5000m at the Paris Diamond League meet
• She will lock horns with world record holder, Letesenbet Gidey and other elite athletes
• Kipyegon broke the 1500m world record on June 2 in Florence Italy

A week after breaking the 1500m world record at the Florence Diamond League Meet, Faith Kipyegon has set her eyes on the 5000m race at the Paris Diamond League meet on Friday, June 9.

She will face some world-class runners, but this will not be the first time the Kenyan athlete has run the 5000m race.

The double Olympic and world champion has only taken part in two 5000m races to date, both back in 2015. Her personal best stands at 14:31:95. She will face world record holders in Paris: Letesenbet Gidey, Beatrice Chepkoech, and Ejgayehu Taye.

Gidey is the world 10,000m champion, but has not raced this year since the infamous World Cross Country Championships in Bathurst, Australia. She was set to win the race, but her legs gave up. The Ethiopian is also the 5000m world record holder.

Tobi Amusan's bio: parents, age, coach, height, cash prize, WORLD RECORD

Athletics

Her compatriot, Taye, is the world record holder in the road 5km at 14:19.

Meanwhile, Chepkoech is the world record holder in the 3000m steeplechase, set in 2018. She has a personal best of 14:39:33 in the 5000m, per World Athletics.

What Kipyegon said

The 29-year-old Kenyan understands that there are top athletes in the event, but wants to try and see how she fares.

"I know there are very strong ladies in the race but I'm going to run my race and see what is possible," Kipyegon said. "I've run the 5000m before but it's now long since I did so. I want to see what I can do in the distance now," she said, via The Star.

She also hinted at switching to the 5000m race after the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

"I'll be doing 5000 in Paris to see how much I can achieve in the race. After Paris Olympics, I might switch to 5000m. I like the distance and I'm eager to switch to it."

Eliud Kipchoge admits his marathon record is under threat as he identifies successor

Athletics

It will be interesting to see Kipyegon compete against Gidey, who should be in top form after taking an extended break.

Kipyegon reacts to breaking record

Sports Brief earlier reported on Kipyegon reacting after shattering the 1500m world record in Florence last week.

She clocked 3:49:11, adding another milestone to her long list of accolades.

"I'm so excited. I'm so happy. It was in my mind and heart, I was still looking forward to the world record and I thank God I made it today," she said.

Athletics legends Eliud Kiphoge, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, and Allyson Felix led other sports stars in lauding the Kenyan star after her astonishing achievement.