World-record holder Faith Kipyegon of Kenya fell short in her attempt to be the first woman to run a four-minute mile at a demonstration event on Thursday in Paris, though she still beat her record time.
She clocked a time of 4 minutes, 6.42 seconds at the Nike-organized “Breaking4: Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile” at Stade Sebastien Charlety. Her four laps were 1.22 seconds faster than the official world record of 4:07.64 she set in July 2023 in Monaco.
Her time on Thursday was unofficial, as Kipyegon was aided by a team of 13 elite pacesetters of two women and 11 men, including American standouts Grant Fisher, Craig Engels and Cooper Teare. She also ran in an aerodynamic suit and new Nike spikes that have not been approved by World Athletics, the international governing body for track and field.
Kipyegon, 31, has won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in the 1,500 meters — the Olympic distance closest to one mile (just over 1,609 meters) — including at Paris in 2024.
“Exhausted. I’m tired, but I feel good I’ve tried,” said Kipyegon, a four-time world champion including three at 1,500 meters. “That is why I was coming here to try to be the first woman to run under four minutes, but I have proven that it is possible.
“It’s only a matter of time that I think it will come our way,” she continued. “If it’s not me, it’ll be somebody else. I know one day, one time, a woman will run under four. I will not lose hope. I will still go for it. I hope I will get one day, one time.”
The four-minute mile is iconic in running, with the mark first achieved by Roger Bannister of Great Britain in 1954.
–Field Level Media
