Why Faith Kipyegon will not be competing in the 1500m at the National Trials

ATHLETICS Why Faith Kipyegon will not be competing in the 1500m at the National Trials

Abigael Wafula 12:00 - 07.07.2023

Kipyegon had been invited for both races but she has since been exempted from the 1500m and will only compete in the 5000m race.

Double world record holder Faith Kipyegon will not double in the 1500m and 5000m races at the World Championships National Trials which start today at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Kipyegon had been invited for both races but she has since been exempted from the 1500m and will only compete in the 5000m race.

As reported by Nation Sport, Athletics Kenya Nairobi Region chair Barnaba Korir confirmed that they believe in Kipyegon to deliver a medal in both the 1500m and 5000m races and since she has a wild card for the 1500m, she will only compete in the 5000m which is scheduled for today at 2:20 p.m.

“The 1500m and 5000m are too close at the world event and that’s why we want Kipyegon to conserve her energy and compete in the 5000m only at the trials.

The rest who want to double in the trials can do so but the decision on who will double in Budapest is vested in the selectors. We shall only have a person doubling up when we know they have the potential to win medals,” Korir said, as quoted by Nation Sport.

Kipyegon is currently the 1500m and 5000m world record holder and she has been in impeccable form. There is no doubt that if she makes the cut to double in the two events, she will definitely bring glory back to the country. In the 1500m, she will be chasing her third successive title and in the 5000m, she will be in search of her first victory.

In the trials, Commonwealth Games champion Beatrice Chebet poses a threat to her since she is a master in the distance. Chebet, however, has a wild card to the event after she won the Diamond League Final Trophy last year in Zurich.

Kipyegon will be fighting for top honours in the race alongside National champion Lilian Kasait, and World 10,000m bronze medallist Margaret Chelimo among other athletes.