Faith Kipyegon: 3 Areas to Improve as Tokyo World Championships Preparations Begin

Reigning champion Faith Kipyegon is setting her sights high as she prepares for the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.

A dominant force in middle-distance running, Kipyegon will be defending her 1500m and 5000m titles, both won at the 2023 World Championships in Budapest.

A successful campaign in Tokyo would bring her a fourth 1500m world title and a second in the 5000m, for a total of six world championship gold medals.

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Kipyegon, known as the "Smiling Destroyer," describes her preparation for Tokyo as smooth sailing. She has confident in her goals for the season, which include defending both titles and setting a new world record in the 1500m.

"This season has been fantastic. It's been a wonderful journey towards Tokyo, starting with the 1000m in Siemen, then the Breaking4 event, a great race in Paris, and finally the world record in Eugene," Kipyegon stated as per Standard.

Officially named to Team Kenya on July 22nd, Kipyegon received an automatic bid to the championships as the defending champion and did not compete in the national trials in Nairobi. The World Championships are scheduled for September 13-21.

Kipyegon emphasized the importance of staying healthy as she leads her Kenyan teammates in their quest for medals.

"My focus is on training and staying injury-free. I'm praying for good health as I prepare to compete in both the 1500m and 5000m," she said.

She expressed confidence in her teammates, adding, "I'm excited to run alongside strong teams in both events, including Nelly Chepchirchir and Susan Ejore in the 1500m, and Beatrice Chebet and Agnes Ngetich in the 5000m."

Kipyegon recently broke her own 1500m world record, clocking an astonishing 3:48.68 at the Diamond League meet in Eugene (Prefontaine Classic).

However, she is determined to push the boundaries even further in Tokyo. At the same meet, Beatrice Chebet also broke the 5000m world record, previously held by Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay.

"I believe there's still room for improvement, to run under 3:48 in the 1500m. I'll keep pushing for faster times," Kipyegon commented after her selection to Team Kenya.

On June 26th, the three-time Olympic champion garnered praise for her attempt to break the four-minute barrier in the mile at the Nike Breaking4 event in Paris.

While she fell short of the mark by 6.41 seconds, finishing in 4:00.41, she still shaved a second off her previous world record of 4:07.64 set in 2023. Despite not achieving the sub-four-minute mile, Kipyegon's daring attempt captivated the athletics world.

With the help of pacesetters and Nike's latest technology, Kipyegon aimed to become the first woman to break the four-minute mile. Kenyans gathered in watch parties across the country as the world focused on the iconic Stade Charlety in Paris, the same venue where Kipyegon broke the 1500m world record last July.

"Breaking the world record was special. I wasn't expecting it at the Prefontaine Classic, but I believed in myself. If I could run close to 3:49 while attempting the four-minute mile, I knew I was capable of 3:48 in the 1500m," Kipyegon reflected.