Seoul Gazette - Faith Kipyegon misses out on bid for first female sub-4 minute mile

Aided by wavelight technology and 13 pacers, 11 male and two women, Kipyegon clocked 4min 06.42sec over 1.6km in perfect conditions at Stade Charlety in south Paris.

The time was better than her own world record of 4:07.64 in the non-Olympic event set in Monaco in 2023. But it will not stand as a new world record given the presence of male pacemakers.

"I'm exhausted, I feel tired," said the 31-year-old Kipyegon.

"I tried to be the fastest woman under four minutes, I've proven it's possible, it's only a matter of time. I think it will come one day, if not me someone else."

Kipyegon went through the bell for the final lap in 3:01.84, meaning she'd have to lay down an impossibly fast last 400m.

No woman has ever attempted the sub-4min feat, which was first achieved in 1954 by Britain Roger Bannister -- in 3min 59.4sec -- in what has gone down as one of track running's most momentous achievements.

When Bannister ran a sub-four minute mile 71 years ago, racing conditions were very different. The Briton did it after a morning's work at a hospital during a meet on a cinder track in Oxford and wearing heavy spiked shoes.

Almost 2,000 male athletes have gone on to run sub-4min times since 1954.

In the unofficial race in Paris organised by Nike, Kipyegon benefitted from the wealth of her sponsor's technological support, sporting a custom-made suit as well as new Victory Elite FK shoes.

The "Breaking 4" project follows on six years after Eliud Kipchoge's "Breaking 2" -- when the Kenyan became the first man to run a marathon in under two hours.

Kipchoge was in place to welcome his training partner across the line as the pacers quickly gathered around to congratulate her on her effort.

But the task of trimming nearly eight seconds off her world record time proved beyond the three-time Olympic 1500m gold medallist who is also a four-time world champion (1500m -- 2017, 2022, 2023; 5,000m -- 2023).

"I'm so grateful for today," Kipyegon said. "I gave everything.

"It was not easy, as I said when I was preparing for it. But I wanted to prove to the world that everything is possible."

Kipyegon, who is yet to decide whether she will do the 1500/5,000m double at September's world championships in Tokyo, added: "This was the first trial. I've learned many lessons from this race.

"I will go back to the drawing board to see where I can improve. One time, one day, it will come my way. There's more in the tank."

P.Hwang--SG