Triple Olympic champion in 1,500m Faith Kipyegon concluded her splendid season undefeated with a win at the first edition of the Athlos NYC run in the USA early Friday.
The reigning world record holder ran a tactical race to win the 1,500m in 4 minutes, 4.79 seconds ahead of Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji, who clocked 4:05.58 to claim 2nd position, while Kenyan Susan Ejore came home 3rd in 4:06.25 minutes.
However, it was a bad day in office for reigning world champion Mary Moraa after she finished 2nd in 800m in 1:58.05, behind Tsige Duguma of Ethiopia, who claimed victory in 1:57.43 minutes, while Jamaica’s Natoya Goule-Toppin completed the podium position in 1:58.63 minutes.
Former World Champion Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda finished a distance 5th.
Jasmine Camacho Quinn of Puerto Rico won the 100-meter hurdles in 12.36 seconds, followed by the American duo of Alaysha Johnson and Masai Russell.
Coted’ivore’s Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith emerged victorious in the 100m, posting 10.98 seconds, followed by Brittany Brown and Candace Hill, both from the USA in 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
Brittany Brown trounced Olympic champion Gabby Thomas, crossing the finish line first in 22.18 seconds, while Thomas placed 2nd in 22.21.
Olympic Champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic claimed victory in 49.59 seconds ahead of Alexis Holmes of the USA, and Salwa Eid Naser of Bahrain finished in 2nd and 3rd positions, respectively.
Kipyegon will pocket Ksh 7.6 million for the victory, while Moraa is set to get Ksh 3.1 million, and Ejore will walk home with Ksh 1.27 million for her 3rd finish.
The race was organized by Alexis Ohanian, the husband of 23-time tennis grand slam Serena Williams, is the most lucrative athletics competition and featured only women.
