World 1,500m and Mile record holder Faith Kipyegon, alongside 2019 World 3,000m steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech, will lead Kenya’s charge at the Paris Diamond League on Sunday.
This will be Kipyegon's first Diamond League of the season after skipping Prefontaine (USA) and Xiamen (China). The former 5,000m record holder pulled out of the two races due to a muscle problem.
At the Olympic trials held at the Nyayo National Stadium, Kipyegon won both the 1,500m (3:53.98 SB) and 5,000m (14:46.28) to book tickets for the Olympics in both events.
In Paris, the 30-year-old will be looking to hit a hattrick of titles in the 1,500m as well as pick up her first 5,000m Olympic title.
Kipyegon’s Olympic glory began with her 2016 Rio title (4:08.92) and defended it successfully in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics Games, where she posted 3:53.11.
She holds three world 1,500m titles from London 2017 (4:02.59), Eugene 2022 (3:52.96), and Budapest 2023 (3:54.87). She is also the reigning 5,000m world champion (14:53.88, Budapest).
Kipyegon will flex muscles with Olympic silver medallist Laura Muir of Great Britain. Muir is a two-time European champion —2022 Munich (4:01.08) and 2018 Berlin (4:02.32)— as well as a three-time European indoor champion — 2017 Beograd (4:02.39), 2019 Glasgow (4:05.92) and 2023 Istanbul (4:03.40).
Kipyegon will be joined by compatriot Susan Ejore, a two-time NCAA (National Collegiate Athletics Association) indoor champion.
In the women’s 3,000m steeplechase, Chepkoech will be seeking redemption against Kenyan-born Bahraini Winfred Yavi, who bested her at the Budapest World Championships in a time of 8:54.29.
Chepkoech, who finished second in 8:58.94, will be aiming for a strong performance to boost her Olympic medal prospects in her third appearance at the global show.
The 32-year-old Chepkoech placed fourth in Rio 2016 (9:16.05) and seventh in Tokyo 2020 (9:16.33). She will be joined by 2022 Commonwealth Games champion Jackline Chepkoech.
In the men’s events, 2021 U20 3,000m steeplechase champion Amos Serem will lead the charge and will be in the company of 2018 U20 silver medallist Leonard Bett, world bronze medallist Abraham Kibiwott, Lawrence Kipsang and Wilberforce Kones.
The 2022 World 5,000m silver medallist Jacob Krop will compete in the 3,000m alongside Isaac Ndiema. They will face tough competition from France’s Mounir Akbache and Uruguay’s 2021 South American bronze medallist, Santiago Catrofe.