Faith Kipyegon is set to pocket a handsome amount after cementing her status as one of the greats in middle-distance races on Saturday, September 14.
The Olympic champion powered to victory at the Brussels Diamond League, fending off Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji in a thrilling two-woman showdown in the 1500 metres.
Despite Kipyegon starting strong and looking comfortable for most of the race, things got interesting in the final lap after Welteji gained ground. Still, it was too little too late for the Ethiopian.
Kipyegon claimed her fifth Diamond League title with a meeting record of 3:54.75, with Welteji finishing in second place with a time of 3:55.25.
Tussle between Faith Kipyegon and Gudaf Tsegay at the Olympics.
Photo
World Athletics
“My goal was to finish my Diamond League season in a good way and I did,” the mother of one said after the race, admitting she felt as strong as ever despite starting her season late.
Thanks to her heroics in Brussels, Kipyegon is set to take home approximately Ksh3,871,116 (USD30,000), in addition to the Ksh1,290,372 (USD10000) won by triumphing in the series meet.
The Diamond League encompasses a model that entails 14 series meetings where athletes are awarded 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or 1 points for ranking 1st to 8th respectively. Kipyegon predictably made the top eight and qualified for the final, which she won.
Second-place finishers get KSh 1,548,446 (USD12,000), while those who finish in third place get KSh 903,260 (USD7,000).
Kipyegon’s feat comes barely six weeks after another stellar showing at the Paris Olympics saw her take a hefty cash reward home.
For snatching gold in Paris, the athlete was entitled to not less than Ksh6.5 million (USD50,000) from the International Olympic Committee.
In the other races, Beatrice Chebet sprinted to victory in the women’s 5000m, while Kenya’s 800m gem Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the men’s 800m, outpacing Algeria’s Djamel Sedjati and Canada’s Marco Arop.
One of the more remarkable stories was that of Olympic bronze medalist Faith Cherotich, who defied all odds to claim victory in the women’s 3000m steeplechase, beating Kenyan-born Winfred Yavi of Bahrain.
Faith Kipyegon Holding the Award of the Female Athlete of the Year for Track Events
Photo
Kenya Tourism Board
