Faith Kipyegon of Kenya broke the women’s mile world record and Nikki Hiltz set a new American record in the same race Friday at the Monaco Diamond League meet.
The Nike-sponsored Kipyegon finished in 4 minutes, 7.64 seconds, breaking the previous record of 4:12.33 set by Sifan Hassan in 2019 when she was training with Nike in Beaverton. Kipyegon won the Olympic gold medal in the 1,500 meters in Tokyo in 2021 and won gold in the 1,500 at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene last year.
In one of the fastest women’s mile races in history, Hiltz crossed in 4:16.35 to set the new American record. Hiltz, a former Oregon Ducks runner now sponsored by Lululemon, broke the mark of 4:16.71 set in 1985 by Eugene resident Mary Decker Slaney. It was one of the longest-lasting American track records.
Hiltz finished the race in sixth place, just behind former Duck Jessica Hull, who took fifth and broke her own Australian record with a time of 4:15.34.
National records were also set in the race by Ciara Mageean of Ireland in second place (4:14.58) and Laura Muir of Great Britain in fourth (4:15.24). Nike-sponsored Bowerman Track Club runner Elise Cranny finished eighth in 4:16.47, which is also faster than Slaney’s previous American record.
At the USA Track & Field Outdoor Championships in Eugene last month, Hiltz won the 1,500 and Cranny won the 5,000. Both will represent Team USA in the World Athletics Championships, set for Aug. 19-27 in Budapest, Hungary.
Hiltz and Cranny will again have to face Kipyegon in Budapest since she is expected to go for an historic double in the 1,500 and 5,000. Kipyegon broke world records in both of those distances earlier this season, making her arguably the greatest woman middle-distance runner of all time.
— Will Lee for The Oregonian/OregonLive