Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Faith Kipyegon both set world records at the Diamond League track and field meeting in Paris on Sunday. First the Ukrainian high jumper erased a mark that had stood for 37 years, before the Kenyan middle-distance runner lowered the 1500m record she set last June.
Mahuchikh, the world champion, was elated after setting a new best mark of 2.10 metres. “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 2.09m was set by Bulgaria’s Stefka Kostadinova in Rome in 1987.
