Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji Beats Faith Kipyegon, Breaks Women’s Road Mile World Record

• Faith Kipyegon has been beaten for the first time this season
• The Kenyan finished third in the women's road mile at the inaugural World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, won by Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji
• The Ethiopian smashed the world record previously held by USA'sNikki Hiltz

Ethipia's Diribe Welteji produced a magnificent performance to beat Kenya's Faith Kipyegon in the women's road mile at the World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia.

The Ethiopian clocked 4:20.98, shattering the world record held by USA's Nikki Hiltz.

Kipyegon comfortably led the race, but the 21-year-old Ethiopian was on her heels for the majority of the race. As they headed towards the finish line, the Ethiopian passed the Kenyan superstar to win.

The Kenyan was also pipped by Freweyni Hailu close to the finish line, meaning that she got to the podium in her debut road event.

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Hailu finished second in 4:23.06, while the double world champion in 2023 rounded up the podium in 4:24.13, per World Athletics.

Welteji finished second behind Kipyegon in the women's 1500m at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in Budapest in August and has now beaten the Kenyan for the first time this year.

Kipyegon concludes historic season

Despite the result, it was a phenomenal season for Kipyegon, who has been grabbing headlines since the season started in May.

Kipyegon's Diamond League season began in Doha, Qatar, on May 5. She clocked 3:58.57 to win, beating the likes of Diribe Welteji and Jessica Hull. Her next 1500m race was at the Golden Gala in Rome/Florence on June 2. She clocked a world record 3:49.11, but that was just a taste of things to come.

A week later, on June 9 in Paris, the 29-year-old shattered the 5000m world record, clocking 14:05.20, to beat world record holder Letesenbet Gidey.

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On July 21 in the Monaco Diamond, she smashed the one-mile world record, finishing in 4:07.64.

She then won the 1500m in the Diamond League final on September 16.

Kipyegon also won two gold medals in the 1500m and 5000m at the World Athletics Championships.

What Kipyegon earned for gold medals

Sports Brief previously reported on what Kipyegon earned for her gold medals at the World Athletics Championships in Budapest, Hungary.

She won two gold medals, so she will be entitled to $140,000. When converted to Kenyan shillings, she will make over Ksh20 million (1USD=145Ksh).

Kipyegon will take home $40,000 after her dominant win in the Diamond League final.