Faith Kipyegon was among several Kenyan runners who bagged more than Ksh1 million after exemplary performances at the Silesia Diamond League in Poland on Saturday, August 16.
The triple Olympic champion continued her impressive form of 2025, clocking an impressive 8:07:04, which was just shy of the 8:06.11 set by China’s Junxia Wang in 1993.
While the world record remains untouched, Kipyegon's emphatic victory earned her USD10,000, which is approximately Ksh1.2 million in prize money, set by the Diamond League organisers.
Notably, this was the 31-year-old's third race of the season after earlier triumphs in the 1000m and 1500m, where she shattered the world record at the Prefontaine Classic.
More impressively, it was the first time Kipyegon ran a 3000m race since 2014, yet she managed to get the better of all her opponents to bag the hefty prize money.
For every win in the Diamond League this season, the first-place prize has been set at USD10,000. Second-place finishers bag USD6,000 while third-place finishers get USD4,000.
Kipyegon was not the only Kenyan to bag some cash rewards in Poland. Javelin hero Julius Yego re-announced himself on this stage with a victory and a season-best throw of 83.60m, edging out Olympic champion Keshorn Walcott (82.54m) and Andrian Mardare (82.38m). For his heroics, Yego, a 2015 World Champion, also bagged Ksh1.2 million.
Elsewhere, Beatrice Chebet competed in the 1500m, where she delivered a personal best time of 3:54:73. She, however, had to settle for second place behind Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, who stormed to a dominant win in 3:50.62. Regardless, Chebet will be happy to have pocketed Ksh777,000.
2019 World Champion Tim Cheruiyot also finished second in the men's 1500m, bagging Ksh777,000, taking the total number of Kenyans who secured a form of victory in Poland to four.
Kipyegon will now shift her focus to Tokyo, which is set to host the World Athletics Championships, set to kick off in Tokyo on September 13.
"It is all about Tokyo now. I am so happy. I wanted to run a longer distance. To be honest, I did not see the clock on the finish line because I was so tired. But now I am very satisfied with the time," Kipyegon said on Saturday.
"I want to be an inspiration for young people, and I love to challenge myself. Tokyo is a championship race, so anything can happen."
Chebet will also take part in the championships in Tokyo, where she will eye top honours in the 5000m and 10,000m events.
