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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Eamon Doggett

Ciara Mageean in great display of sportsmanship as Faith Kipyegon breaks world record

Ciara Mageean was the first to congratulate Faith Kipyegon after the Kenyan broke the 1500m world record.

Kipyegon is a two-time Olympic champion but had previously come agonisingly close to breaking the world record of 3:50.07 held by Genzebe Dibaba.

But at the Florence Diamond League meeting on Friday, the 29-year-old sprinted all the way to the line to win in a time of 3 minutes 49.11 seconds and become the first woman to break the 3:50 barrier.

And in a video captured by former Irish hurdles star Derval O'Rourke, Mageean was the first to run over to Kipyegon and congratulate her on the historic achievement.

In a fantastic display of sportsmanship, Portaferry woman Mageean hugs the Kenyan superstar before her fellow runners join in on the congratulations.

Mageean herself ran her fastest ever 1500m season opener (4.00.95) to finish in fourth place behind Britain's Laura Muir and Australian Jessica Hull and the runaway winner Kipyegon.

"When I crossed the finish line, I knew I broke the world record because I had a good finish and felt very strong at the end. I knew everything was possible," said Kipyegon said after the race.

"After 1,000, when the pacemaker went out, I just pushed myself towards the finish line. And that was what my manager told me - anything is possible - after the pacemaker, just run your race.

"This was really important because this was something I was still missing in my career.

"Getting this, it will really motivate me and I left the legacy for the next generation - they can say she broke the world record, she was the Olympic and the world champion. It was amazing tonight."

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