Faith Kipyegon to renew rivalry with Laura Muir in Florence Diamond League Meeting

ATHLETICS Faith Kipyegon to renew rivalry with Laura Muir in Florence Diamond League Meeting

Abigael Wafula 05:22 - 31.05.2023

In a pre-race press conference at the Diamond League Meeting in Doha, Kipyegon revealed that she loves racing against Muir since the Scot brings out the best in her.

Two-time world 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon will return to Florence, Italy for the Golden Gala, a Diamond League Meeting, after two years and she will be racing a star-studded field including Laura Muir, who will pose as her fiercest opponent. 

The last time she competed in Florence, she lost to Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan, in one of the most memorable races and Kipyegon will be out to change the narrative. Scotland's Muir finished third in the race at the time. 

In a pre-race press conference at the Diamond League Meeting in Doha, Kipyegon revealed that she loves racing against Muir since the Scot brings out the best in her. 

She said: "I have been competing with her for a while and I love that. When we get to that starting line, she motivates me to do better." 

The two will be joined by other athletes who boast of personal bests of less than four minutes, such as the Canadian record holder Gabriela DeBues-Stafford and the Australian Jessica Hull (competing with compatriots Linden Hall and Abbey Caldwell).

Ethiopian Diribe Welteji, Ireland’s Ciara Mageean, and American Josette Andrews-Norris are also in the line-up.

Meanwhile, at her seasonal debut in Doha, Kipyegon has already set her signature in 3:58.57. She also boasts of two Olympic titles in the 1500m and she is also the reigning Diamond League champion.

Kipyegon is also the second fastest woman over the 1500m courtesy of her exploits during the Diamond League Meeting in Monaco last year.

She clocked 3:50.37, missing out on Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba’s world record by three-tenths of a second. On her part, Muir, the iron Scotswoman, is the European champion for two consecutive editions.

She is also the reigning Olympic silver and world bronze medallist and a British record holder in 3:54.50. In 2023 she has already won the European indoor championship and in Florence, she is expected to make her seasonal debut outdoors.

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