Athletics enthusiasts are anticipating a titanic battle never witnessed before in the women's 5000m race after 1,500m world record holder Faith Kipyegon declared her intention to switch to the 12-lap race.
Awestruck by her landmark victory in Florence, Italy, where she set a new world record, the Kenyan track luminary has now vowed to take on a rich field of 5000m sensations including her compatriot Beatrice Chebet.
"I know there are very strong ladies in the race but I'm going to run my race and see what is possible," Kipyegon said in an interview on Sunday.
Kipyegon will not operate in unfamiliar waters given she is returning to a race she previously participated in.
"I've run the 5000m before but it's now long since I did so. I want to see what I can do in the distance now," she said.
The 29-year-old track queen is ready to gauge her mettle in the distance at this year's fourth Diamond League event in France this weekend.
The Northwestern European nation will host the Meeting de Paris at the 20,000-capacity Stade Charléty stadium on June 9.
"On Friday I'll be doing 5000 in Paris to see how much I can achieve in the race. After Paris Olympics, I might switch to 5000m. I like the distance and I'm eager to switch to it."
In the 5000m race, Kipyegon should expect a stiff challenge from world champion Gudaf Tsegayeth of Ethiopia who clinched the title in Oregon last year after clocking 14:46.29.
She must also be mindful of compatriot Beatrice Chebet, who lit up the Moi Stadium, Kasarani tracks to bag the title at Kip Keino Classic Tour on May 13.
The 2023 London Marathon champion Sifan Hassan of Holland, 2022 World Championships bronze medallist Dawit Seyaumeth, as well as compatriot Margaret Chelimo will also be among her key competitors.
But the most decorated female miler in history still feels a nagging desire to go for a third world title in the 1500m before she quits the distance. She shaved 96 hundredths of a second off Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba's 2015 world record, after beginning the day as the second-fastest woman in history at 3:50.37.
"I want to defend my title in Budapest this year and then in Paris during the Olympic games next year. Afterward, I'm going to see if I can switch to 5000m going forward to the marathon."
Kipyegon said her masterstroke performance in Florence, Italy over the weekend took her by surprise.
"I wasn't planning on setting a world record. I simply aimed to surpass the 3:54.03 record set this year for the quickest time in the globe," she said.
"Since last year, I've been thinking about breaking the world record.I give God praise for assisting me in breaking this record. I looked forward to setting a world lead time in the race but ended up breaking the record. This was significant since it filled a gap in my career that I still had."
