Ukraine’s Mahuchikh, Kenya’s Kipyegon break world records at Paris Diamond League
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Two world records fell at the Diamond League track and field meeting in Paris on Sunday.
Yaroslava Mahuchikh of Ukraine erased a mark that stood for 37 years in the women’s high jump, while Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon bettered her own world record in the women’s 1,500 metres.
Mahuchikh, the reigning women’s high jump world champion, set a new best mark of 2.10m.
“Coming into this competition, I had feelings that I could jump 2.07 metres and maybe 2.10 metres,” Mahuchikh said. “Finally I signed Ukraine to the history of world athletics.”
The previous record of 2.09 was set by Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova in Rome in 1987.
The 22-year-old Mahuchikh and world indoor champion Nicola Olyaslagers both cleared 2.01 meters on their second attempt. After Olyslagers failed three times at 2.03, Mahuchikh cleared that height to secure victory.
She then cleared 2.07 meters to set a Ukrainian record and had the bar raised to 2.10, which she cleared on her first try.
WATCH | Mahuchikh breaks women’s high jump world record in Paris:
Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh cleared 2.10 metres to break the long-standing world high jump record at the Diamond League meet in Paris, France.
Not too long after Mahuchikh celebrated one world record, Kipyegon broke another.
The Kenyan runner finished the women’s 1,500m in three minutes 49.04 seconds, surpassing her record of 3:49.11, which was set in Italy last year.
“I knew the world record was possible because I recently ran very fast in Kenya,” said Kipyegon, who clocked 3:53.98 at Kenya’s Olympic Trials. “I was coming here to just run my race and to see what shape I’m in to defend my title at the Olympics.”
The 30-year-old Kipyegon is a two-time Olympic gold medallist in the 1,500, having won in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and Tokyo in 2021, and a four-time world champion.
WATCH | Kipyegon sets new record in Paris:
The Kenyan middle-distance runner bested her previous time, set in Florence in June 2023, by 0.07 seconds, finishing in Paris at 3:49.04.
Canadian record falls
In other notable action at Sunday’s meet, Canada’s Charles Philibert-Thiboutot set a new national record in the men’s 3,000m distance.
Philibert-Thiboutot finished the non-Diamond League points event in seven minutes and 35.73 seconds, which was good enough for a fourth-place result in Paris.
WATCH | Philibert-Thiboutot sets Canadian record in men’s 3,000m:
Philibert-Thiboutot put up a time of 7:35.73 for a fourth-place finish and new Canadian record, while Fafard ran a 7:38.07, as the Canadian pair logged personal bests in the 3,000.
Fellow Canadian Thomas Fafard finished sixth in the 3,000m, notching a personal-best time of 7:38.07.
Canada’s Jerome Blake posted a fifth-place finish in the men’s 200m event. The Canadian crossed the line in 20.82 seconds.
WATCH | Jerome Blake runs the 200 in Paris:
Jerome Blake of Kelowna, B.C., looks for a top finish in the 200-metre race at Diamond League Paris.
Another Canadian sprinter was also in action on Sunday, but Andre De Grasse wasn’t in Paris – he was at a World Athletics Continental Tour event in the Netherlands. De Grasse ran in the 100m at the FBK Games in Hengelo, finishing in 10.07 seconds for a third-place result.
WATCH | De Grasse finishes 3rd in 100m in Hengelo:
The six-time Olympic medallist ran to a time of 10.07 in the Netherlands, finishing behind winner Ferdinand Omanyala and American Ronnie Baker.
In the men’s 3,000m steeplechase, Canada’s Jean-Simon Desgagne ran to a ninth-place finish. The time of 8:13.11 was a personal best for the Canadian.
WATCH | Desgagnes sets personal best in men’s steeplechase:
The native of Saint-Ferreol-les-Neiges, Que., is getting a tune-up race in Paris ahead of competing in the 2024 Summer Olympics.
The Paris meet also saw a notable injury as world decathlon record holder Kevin Mayer of France was forced to withdraw after crashing to the ground during the 110-metre hurdles race.
The incident comes less than three weeks before the Olympic Games opening ceremony.
Mayer, a two-time Olympic silver medallist in decathlon, tumbled after he crossed the eighth hurdle. He shouted in pain and remained on the ground for a long moment, holding his head in his hands. He managed to walk off the track, helped by a member of the medical team.
The Paris Olympics opening ceremony is on July 26. The decathlon starts on Aug. 2.
WATCH | Athletics North — Recapping 100m at Canadian Olympic trials:
Andre De Grasse & Audrey Leduc were crowned fastest man and woman in Canada at the 2024 Olympic & Paralympic trials last week, but what do their wins mean as Paris 2024 comes into focus? We talk to certified track nerd Morgan Campbell about the results and the breadth of the Canadian athletics team.
Diamond League calendar
- Monaco — July 12
- London — July 20
- Lausanne, Switzerland — Aug. 22
- Silesia, Poland — Aug. 25
- Rome — Aug. 30
- Zurich — Sept. 5
- Brussels (DL Final) — Sept. 13-14
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