KIPYEGON RUNS ONE MILE IN 4:06.42

World and Olympic Champion Faith Kipyegon made history once again on Thursday June 26, 2025, clocking a stunning 4:06.42 for a mile. The performance came during a specially arranged exhibition event held at Stade Sebastien Charlety in Paris, the same venue where she previously set world records in the 1500m and 5000m. Supported by a dedicated team of pacemakers and wearing an aerodynamic suit and super light Nike spikes, the Kenyan star ran the fastest mile ever recorded by a woman. Her aim was to break the elusive four-minute barrier or at least surpass her own official world record of 4:07.64, set in Monaco in July 2023. While she narrowly missed her first target, she succeeded in the second.

Kipyegon stayed close to target pace in the early stages, passing 400m in 1:00.20 and 800m in 2:00.75. At that point pacemakers Jemma Reekie and Georgia Hunter Bell stepped aside. The remaining pacers continued in coordinated diagonal formations, but signs of fatigue began to appear during the third lap. Kipyegon hit the bell at 3:01.84 and summoned all her strength for the final lap of 64.58 seconds, crossing the finish in 4:06.42.

 Thursday’s event was not record eligible as Kipyegon’s 13 pacers included men. The group included American Grant Fisher, the Olympic 5000m and 10,000m bronze medalist. A four-minute mile would have been the latest achievement in the 31-year-old Kipyegon’s glittering career, adding to her three Olympic gold medals and four world titles.