Three-time Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon narrowly missed becoming the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes on Thursday, clocking a time of 4 minutes, 6.42 seconds at a Nike-sponsored exhibition event in Paris. Although the effort did not result in an official record, the time stands as the fastest mile ever run by a woman.
The 31-year-old Kenyan middle-distance runner was the star of an event titled “Breaking4: Faith Kipyegon vs. the 4-Minute Mile.” Due to the use of a large team of pacers and the race’s exhibition format, the time is not eligible for ratification by the international athletics governing body.
