Faith Kipyegon will kick off her track season in Xiamen on April 20. The Kenyan will take part in the first stage of the Diamond League. The double Olympic champion will compete in her favorite distance, the 1500 m. Kipyegon, a four-time world champion, has not been beaten in a 1,500 m race since 2021. But in Xiaman, she will face stiff competition. She will face 10 women who have run under four minutes, including Ethiopian 10,000 m world champion Gudaf Tsegay, who broke Kipyegon's 5,000 m world record last year.
Diribe Welteji, who beat Kipyegon to the world road mile title in Riga last year, will also be in contention, as will 1,500 m world indoor champion Freweyni Hailu. It's going to be an extremely strong field.
Other African athletics stars will also be in the running. These include Tobi Amusan (100 m hurdles), Hughes Fabrice Zango (triple jump) and Beatrice Chepkoech (steeplechase).
