The Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, proved to be an unforgettable, rollercoaster weekend for Kenyan women athletes.

On one hand, Hayward Field witnessed spectacular, high-earning victories from Kenya’s rising and reigning queens of the track. On the other, it delivered the first middle-distance defeat for the legendary Faith Kipyegon in over five years.

Odira and Cherotich

The undisputed headline of the weekend belongs to world 800m champion Lilian Odira. In a replication of the World Championship final in Tokyo, Odira crossed the line in a season’s best. She crossed the line at 1:56.19, leaving Hodgkinson for second place (1:56.73).

The women’s 800m was designated as a prestigious “Diamond+ Discipline” in Eugene. Odira didn’t just win bragging rights; she doubled her prize money, pocketing a whopping $20,000 (Ksh 2.6 million).

Not to be outdone, reigning world champion Faith Cherotich put on a tactical masterclass in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase. The 21-year-old comfortably pulled away from her rival, Olympic champion Winfred Yavi. Cherotich took home the standard $10,000 (Ksh 1.3 million) winner’s purse.

Kipyegon’s streak ends

While the younger generation of Kenyan women dominated, the queen herself showed rare vulnerability, creating the biggest story coming out of Eugene.

Three-time Olympic champion and world record holder Faith Kipyegon entered the women’s mile boasting an extraordinary unbeaten streak. A streak stretching all the way back to 2021. When the pacemaker stepped off, Kipyegon moved to the front to control the tempo. However, the pack preferred a slow, tactical affair, which ultimately backfired on the champion.

In a frantic final 300 meters, American Nikki Hiltz made a decisive move to claim a world-leading and meeting-record win in 4:17.49. In the final stretch, fellow Kenyan Dorcus Ewoi also powered past Kipyegon to take second place in a personal best of 4:17.62. Kipyegon crossed the line in third place, taking home $4,000.

The defeat is historic in women’s middle-distance running, proving that even the most dominant athlete in modern track history can have an off day when a race turns highly tactical. Despite the rare loss for Kipyegon, a 1-2-3 finish featuring two Kenyans on the podium solidifies that Kenya’s depth in women’s athletics remains unmatched on the global stage.

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