Kipyegon, Warholm and Russell shine as records fall in Silesia

Faith Kipyegon came within one second of the longstanding world 3000m record, clocking 8:07.04 for the second-fastest time in history at the Kamila Skolimowska Memorial, a Wanda Diamond League meeting, in Silesia, Poland, on Saturday.

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That was one of three individual Diamond League records set on a hot and sunny afternoon in the Silesian Stadium, where Karsten Warholm and Masai Russell also produced two of the fastest performances of all time.

Kenya's Kipyegon is already the world record-holder for the 1500m and the mile and she came incredibly close to adding the 3000m mark to her CV in only her third ever race over the distance.

The three-time Olympic and four-time world gold medallist was paced by Sage Hurta-Klecker and Olympic silver medallist Jessica Hull, and she tracked them closely as they hit 1000m in 2:42.07. Hull then reached 2000m in 5:25.18, a few strides ahead of Kipyegon.

After running solo for the final two laps, Kipyegon stormed across the finish line in 8:07.04 for an African record and Diamond League record, just missing the world record of 8:06.11 set by Wang Junxia in 1993.

She won the race by almost half a minute, Likina Amebaw securing second place in 8:34.53.

The performance marked a phenomenal return to Poland for Kipyegon, who was racing in the country for the first time since 2013, when she won her second world U20 cross country title in Bydgoszcz. She also made her global championship debut in Poland when she raced at the 2010 World Cross Country Championships.

"I am so happy," she said. "I saw the world record line during the race but today it was very hot. I want to come back here next year. All those records, this is what I love doing. I want to be an inspiration for young people and I love to challenge myself."

Looking ahead to next month's World Championships, she added: "It is all about Tokyo now."