How Kenyan trio Obiri, Cheruiyot and Kipyegon made history in Monaco

In the clash of the distance queens, a race featuring the reigning women’s world champions over every distance from 1500m to 10,000m, 5000m titleholder Hellen Obiri reigned supreme over her preferred distance.

World 1500m and 10,000m champion Hassan, who had been doubtful about her form coming into the event due to a long lockdown in Ethiopia, found the pace too punishing and stepped off the track at 4000m, leaving Gidey and Obiri to duel for the honours.

Obiri put on the after-burners 250m from the finish line and sprinted away to win in 14:22.12, setting a meeting record and the world lead.

In men’s 1500m, world champion Timothy Cheruiyot won in 3:28.45, but the ghost of the future shadowed him throughout the race in Monaco in the shape of 19-year-old European champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

Kenya’s Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon went very close to setting the second world record of the night, surprising herself over the less familiar 1000m distance.

Kipyegon, who had her first child after her 2017 World Championships triumph, has clearly returned to her very best. She spread-eagled a world-class field to win in 2:29.15, just 0.17 short of the world record of 2:28.98.