RECORDS AT PARIS PRELUDE

Mahuchikh and Kipyegon ones to watch at Olympics after historic wins

- 

PARIS Ukraine's Yaroslava Mahuchikh and Kenyan Faith Kipyegon hit world record-breaking form at the Diamond League meet on July 7 in Paris in the perfect boost before the Olympics begin at the same city in three weeks.

Mahuchikh broke the 37-yearold women's high jump world record, while Kipyegon improved her own record in the women's 1,500m - two results that will make them the ones to watch at the Games.

World champion Mahuchikh set a new best of 2.10m, beating by lem the record set by Bulgaria's Stefka Kostadinova at the 1987 world championships in Rome, Italy.

"Coming into this competition, I had feelings that I could jump 2.07m and maybe 2.10m. Finally, I signed Ukraine into the history of world athletics," said Mahuchikh.

In the 1,500m, led out by two pacemakers, two-time defending Olympic champion Kipyegon broke to the front and clocked 3min 49.04sec in a superb display of running. It improved by 0.07sec her previous best set in Florence, Italy, in June 2023.

"Wow this is just amazing! I am so happy to break the world record over my favourite distance again. I can't wait to come back to Paris to defend my Olympic title," said Kipyegon.