Faith Kipyegon’s bold attempt to shatter the four-minute mile barrier came up short Thursday night, but her effort pushed the limits of women’s middle-distance running once again.
PARIS — The Kenyan Olympic champion clocked 4:06.42 at the Stade Charléty in Paris, running under ideal conditions with pacemakers and cutting-edge race gear. The time was her fastest yet 1.22 seconds ahead of her current world record but not fast enough to cross the historic threshold.
The Nike-sponsored event, dubbed “Breaking4,” was not eligible for record certification due to the presence of male and female pacemakers and the use of advanced equipment designed to reduce drag and increase speed.
Kipyegon wore an aerodynamic skinsuit and custom-engineered spikes, targeting steady laps under 60 seconds to maintain an average speed of 15 miles (24 kilometers) per hour. She followed 13 pacemakers, including British Olympians Georgia Hunter Bell and Jemma Reekie, while LED lights tracked the ideal pace along the inside rail.
Though the official women’s mile world record remains Kipyegon’s 4:07.64 set in Monaco in July 2023, Friday’s performance marked a new personal best in an assisted setting.
“I knew it would be tough, but I wanted to test the limits,” Kipyegon said after the race. “It’s about pushing boundaries and seeing what is possible.”
The attempt to break the four-minute mark came after growing speculation that Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic gold medalist in the 1500m, had the best shot of any woman in history to achieve the feat.
That possibility gained momentum after her 2023 mile record. However, analysts noted that closing the gap meant running about two seconds faster per lap than her previous best a steep demand even for an elite athlete.
Friday’s race drew global attention as fans and fellow athletes watched to see if Kipyegon could break a barrier long seen as unreachable in women’s athletics.
Although she didn’t achieve the sub-four mark, her run reaffirms her dominance in middle-distance running and continues to reshape expectations in the sport.
Kipyegon will now turn her focus to preparations for the upcoming Olympics, where she remains a favorite in the 1500m and 5,000m events.
