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Faith Kipyegon kicks off her season with a rare race in Xiamen, facing tough rivals in a bid for a potentially historic performance.
It will not be business as usual as Faith Kipyegon gears up for an unusually short distance at the Diamond League Meeting in Xiamen on Saturday, April 26.
The three-time Olympic 1500m champion will be lining up for the 1000m, hoping to make a mark one more time.
Faith Kipyegon last competed over the distance at the FBK After Summer Competition in 2020, winning the race in 2:32.82.
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Her personal best time is 2:29.15 and was set at the 2020 Diamond League Meeting in Monaco. Now, as she lines up against very formidable women, Faith Kipyegon might just go for the world best time of 2:28.98 that was set by Russia’s Svetlana Masterkova in 1996.
However, she will face tough opposition in her quest to conquer her first race of the season and in this article, Pulse Sports Kenya analyses the top three opponents that might deny her the chance.
3 Women Plotting for Faith Kipyegon as she Tackles Unusual Distance in Xiamen
1) Tsige Duguma
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The Ethiopian has never competed in a 1000m race before but has proven to be one of the best 800m runners in the world.
Adding 200m to her distance will not be a problem for the Olympic 800m silver medallist, who is extremely versatile.
Tsige Duguma stunned the world in 2024, going into the 800m Olympic final as an underdog who managed to grab the silver medal.
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Duguma had started her indoor season with a gold medal in the 800m at the World Athletics Indoor Championships, and going outdoors, she knew she had all the confidence needed to conquer at the Paris Olympic Games.
This season, she has already competed in a series of competitions, winning the Meeting Metz Moselle Athlélor, Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais Trophée EDF and the ORLEN Copernicus Cup. However, she failed to defend her title at the World Indoor Championships.
She makes her outdoor debut in Xiamen, China and will be looking forward to giving her best shot with the main focus being on the World Championships in Tokyo, Japan.
2) Halimah Nakaayi
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Halimah Nakaayi might have struggled in recent years with coaching changes and other issues, but now, she has settled in Kaptagat and has the peace of mind.
She will compete in the 1000m against Faith Kipyegon, who also trains in Kaptagat and on D-Day, it will be all about who has better legs.
The Ugandan’s personal best time over the distance is 2:32.12, a time she clocked while in the same race as Faith Kipyegon, at the 2020 Monaco Diamond League.
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That was also her final 1000m race, and she now comes back with the hope of making an impact like never before.
3) Natoya Goule-Toppin
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The Jamaican star is not one t be ruled out, especially since she is the most consistent 1000m runner in the field of strong women.
She recently set a personal best time in the distance, competed at the 2024 Diamond League Meeting in Poland, where she clocked a stunning 2:34.37.
Natoya Goule-Toppin has already started her season, competing in a series of indoor events before the debut edition of the Grand Slam Track in Kingston, Jamaica.
She clocked 1:59.78 for a sixth-place finish in the 800m and faded to eighth-place in the 1500m, and in Xiamen, she will be seeking redemption.
As Faith Kipyegon prepares to open her season with the 1000m showdown in Xiamen, all eyes will be on the double world champion to see if she can once again rise to the occasion.
With fierce challengers like Duguma, Nakaayi, and Goule-Toppin standing in her way, the stage is set for an electrifying race, one that could deliver not only a thrilling finish but perhaps even a historic time.
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