After SOYA feat, Kipyegon now sets sights on world record

After being feted as the SOYA Sportswoman of the Year, two-time Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon says she will attempt to break the 1500m world record again this year.

Kipyegon won the award last Friday in a gala ceremony held in Nairobi.

Last year, she missed the world record by a whisker at the Monaco Diamond League where she ran the second-fastest time of three minutes, 50.37 seconds just three tenths of a second off Genzebe Dibaba’s world record mark.

"For sure I haven't lost hope in breaking the world record. Last year I came so close and that gives me more motivation to try it again this season. It is my prayer that I will finally achieve it," said Kipyegon

At the same time, the 29-year-old who won back-to-back Soya crowns said she will be aiming to win her third world title in this year’s World Championships slated for August in Budapest, Hungary.

"I think I had a very successful season last year where I reclaimed the world title in Oregon. My focus this season is to retain the title in Budapest," said Kipyegon.

The three-time Diamond League winner also weighed in on the doping scourge that put Kenya to the edge of being banned from international athletics last year.

"I would like to urge my fellow athletes to run clean and protect the image of our country. The upcoming generation of athletes are following on our footsteps and we need to always be a good example to them," Kipyegon averred.