Kenyan runner Faith Kipyegon made headlines on Thursday by achieving the fastest women’s mile in history, although she finished more than six seconds shy of breaking the elusive four-minute barrier.
Kipyegon clocked an impressive time of 4 minutes, 06.42 seconds while running four laps of the Stade Charléty track in Paris. This ambitious attempt was backed by Nike, which collaborated with Kipyegon on every detail of the run, even customizing her running suit and track spikes as part of the project dubbed Breaking4.
After the race, Kipyegon expressed confidence that breaking the four-minute barrier is achievable, stating, “It’s only a matter of time. If it’s not me, it’s going to be someone else.”
The attempt is part of Nike’s strategy under the leadership of newly appointed CEO Elliott Hill, aiming to refocus the company on sports and regain traction with everyday runners who have, in recent years, switched to competitors’ brands amidst Nike’s emphasis on retro sneakers.
Additionally, this event serves as a significant step towards winning back female customers. Nike’s Chief Innovation Officer, John Hoke, mentioned that the company has doubled its research investment focusing on the anatomy and biodynamics of women athletes. This initiative aligns with the launch of a new lineup of running shoes conceived from research on women.
Kipyegon, who is 31 years old, has a distinguished record, being a three-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1,500 meters. Earlier in 2023, she set a new women’s world record in the mile with a time of 4:07.64.
Experts have shown mixed opinions regarding her ability to shatter the four-minute barrier. During the event, Kipyegon competed in front of a dedicated but small crowd that included global fans and track icons such as Keely Hodgkinson, Eliud Kipchoge, Carl Lewis, and Diljeet Taylor.
Lewis, a nine-time Olympic gold medalist, remarked, “This is an event that people will remember for years and years to come.”
Nike’s comprehensive support for Kipyegon included strategizing the best way for her to draft behind pacesetters, a method experts suggested could help reduce her overall time. Kipyegon was accompanied by 13 pacesetters and pace lights calibrated to signal the four-minute pace.
Reflecting on the effort, Kipyegon stated, “The team gave everything to make this day so perfect.”
Nike vice president Amy Jones Vaterlus, who oversees the company’s research lab, expressed confidence in their preparations, saying, “I felt confident we gave her our best, and Faith gave us hers.”
While Kipyegon’s time won’t be recognized as a new world record due to the use of pacesetters and the nature of the event not being part of an official track meet, anticipation surrounds her next official competition.
Scheduled to run the 1,500 meters at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene on Saturday, July 5, Kipyegon remains focused on her goals.
Despite not hitting the four-minute mark, the event was celebrated by attendees. Taylor stated, “What we’re experiencing tonight is someone who’s trying to remove the ceiling.”
Kipchoge, a training partner and friend of Kipyegon, noted the importance of setting goals, saying, “We need people who set goals.”
Leading up to her attempt, Kipyegon emphasized the desire for her efforts to inspire others, especially young female runners. After the race, she reiterated her message: “We have to push ourselves towards something we dream of. This race was about showing the world we have to push ourselves.”
image source from：oregonlive
