BUDAPEST - Kenya's Faith Kipyegon produced a devastating last lap to win an unprecedented third world women's 1500m title in Budapest on Tuesday as arch-rival Sifan Hassan took bronze.
The double Olympic champion, who previously won world golds in 2017 and last year in Eugene, led from gun to tape in a magisterial display of running.
She kicked at the bell for the final lap to outstrip a loaded field to win in 3min 54.87sec.
Ethiopian Diribe Welteji took silver in 3:55.69, with Dutch runner Hassan rounding out the podium (3:56.00).
It was another remarkable result for the irrepressible Kipyegon in a stunning season in which she has set three world records.
"This is a great season for me," the 29-year-old Kenyan admitted. "To break the world records and become a world champion here, to defend my title.
"I told myself, 'You are the strongest and just keep going'. I was chasing history today and I was chasing this title. I have done it."
Kipyegon is hailed as the world's best-ever runner over 1500m and it is easy to see why.
She remains unbeaten over the distance since June 2021. On that occasion at the Florence Diamond League meet she was beaten by Hassan.