Image source, Getty Images
Laura Muir set a new British record in the 1500 metres, her rival Faith Kipyegon broke the world record at the Paris Diamond League, while Yaroslava Mahuchik set a 37-year-old record in the women’s high jump.
The 31-year-old Muir came in third in 3 minutes 53.79 seconds, breaking the national record he set when he won silver at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago.
Kenya’s Kipyegon clocked a staggering 3 minutes 49.04 seconds to win ahead of Australia’s Jessica Hull. The 30-year-old will be bidding for a third consecutive Olympic gold medal in the French capital next month.
British champion Georgia Bell took fifth place in a huge personal best of 3:56.54 on her Olympic debut, while Katie Snowden was ninth in 3:58.13.
- author, Harry Poole
- role, BBC Sports Reporter
Ukraine’s world high jump champion, Mahuchik, 22, broke the previous record of 2.09 metres set by Stevka Kostadinova of Belarus in 1987 and cleared 2.10 metres for the first time, once again raising her chances of winning gold at the Paris Games.
Briton Morgan Lake finished in ninth place with a jump of over 1.92 metres.
Elizabeth Bird finished third in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase in a season-best time of 9 minutes 9.07 seconds. World champion Winfred Yavi of Bahrain won in 9 minutes 3.68 seconds.
Laviai Nielsen finished fifth in the women’s 400 meters with a personal best time of 50.76 seconds. The winner was world champion Marileidy Paulino of the Dominican Republic (49.20 seconds).
There are two Diamond League matches remaining before the start of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Monaco will host the ninth round of the series on Friday before the drivers have the opportunity to make final preparations in London on Saturday 20 July.
Kipyegon and Mahuchik make statements as Olympics approach
Kipyegon had a brilliant 2023 season in which she set world records in the 1500m, 5000m and mile but did not race this year until last month at Kenya’s Olympic trials. But she was quick to remind her rivals why she remains the favorite to add another to her six world championship gold medals.
With Kipyegon racing the pace-setting Wright on the inside of the track in search of more history, only Hull had the courage to follow suit, while Muir timed it perfectly to finish strong and boost his confidence of another Olympic podium finish.
“I ran very fast recently in Kenya so I knew there was a chance of a world record and I came here to run my race and see if I can defend my title at the Olympics,” Kipyegon said.
Mahuchik won a bronze medal at her Olympic debut in Tokyo three years ago as a teenager and will be the favourite to win in Paris after her historic jump.
The Ukrainian cleared 2.03m to beat Australia’s Nicola Ollislagers and beat her personal best of 2.07m to tie for fourth-best high jump of all time.
Continuing his momentum, Mahuchik, who was forced to flee his war-torn home country two years ago after a Russian invasion, sprinted off to celebrate with his coach after breaking the world record on his first attempt.
“Going into this competition I felt I could jump 2.07 metres, maybe 2.10 metres,” she said. “Finally I had put Ukraine in the history books at the world athletics level.”
Armand Duplantis was unable to set three world records in Paris, but he did win the men’s pole vault.
The Swede broke the world record for the eighth time at the season-opening Diamond League in April and recently came close several times to breaking the mark with a score of 6.24 metres at the European Championships.
Duplantis, who has won consecutive world championship gold medals since winning Olympic gold at age 21 in Tokyo three years ago, cleared six meters to seal the victory.