Faith Kipyegon suffered a rare Diamond League defeat in Eugene, but Kenya still cashed in big as Cherotich and Odira delivered statement wins.
Kenyan athletes enjoyed another lucrative and successful outing at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, Oregon, pocketing millions of shillings in prize money despite world record holder Faith Kipyegon suffering one of the biggest upsets of her career.
Kipyegon's defeat in the women's mile headlined the Diamond League meeting after the triple Olympic champion failed to extend her remarkable unbeaten run in the event. The Kenyan star, who had not lost a Diamond League 1500m or mile race since 2021, was overtaken in the closing stages by American Nikki Hiltz.
Hiltz produced a blistering finishing kick to cross the line first in a world-leading 4:17.49, breaking a 38-year-old meeting record, with Kenya's Dorcus Ewoi continuing her impressive rise by finishing second in a personal best of 4:17.62. Kipyegon had to settle for a rare third in 4:17.80.
The result marked Kipyegon's first middle-distance track defeat in more than five years and only her third race of the 2026 season, having adopted a conservative schedule ahead of the major championships later this year. Speaking after the race, Hiltz said she had always wondered whether she could out-kick Kipyegon in the final 100 metres, calling the Kenyan someone "we obviously all look up to."
Despite the disappointment, Kipyegon remained upbeat after the race, insisting she was pleased with her performance and fitness. "The race was good. I'm happy that I've competed healthily. I'm so happy to have done my first middle-distance race of the year. This is sports, and we accept the outcome. It's a little tough. I just wanted to follow the ladies. That's why I'm not going crazy," she said.
Despite the defeat, Kipyegon will still take home a sizeable payday. The women's mile was selected as one of the Diamond+ Discipline events at the Prefontaine Classic, meaning the prize purse was significantly higher than standard Diamond League rewards. Winner Nikki Hiltz will receive USD 20,000 (approximately Ksh2.5 million), runner-up Ewoi will pocket USD 6,000 (about Ksh778,000), and Kipyegon's third-place finish is worth USD 4,000, approximately Ksh518,000 — all excluding any appearance fees paid to elite athletes.
While Kipyegon's defeat dominated headlines, world 3000m steeplechase champion Faith Cherotich delivered a statement performance of her own, claiming her first Diamond League victory of the season. Cherotich held off Olympic champion Winfred Yavi in a thrilling finish to win in 8:51.74, underlining why she remains one of the brightest stars in women's distance running.
Tunisia's Marwa Bouzayani finished third after setting a new national record, while Uganda's former Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai placed fifth.
After the race, Cherotich revealed that her victory came after overcoming an injury setback. "I'm happy the race was good. I'm happy I'm back, and I thank God because I'm back after a long injury," she said.
Since the steeplechase was not classified as a Diamond+ Discipline event, Cherotich will receive the standard winner's prize of USD 10,000, equivalent to approximately Ksh1.2 million.
Kenya's success in Eugene did not end there, as world 800m champion Lilian Odira continued her outstanding form by defeating Olympic champion Keely Hodgkinson for the second time in succession. Odira won the women's 800m in 1:56.19 after keeping her composure in a race disrupted by an unusually fast opening pace from the pacemaker.
Hodgkinson finished second in 1:56.73, recreating the one-two finish from the World Championships and further cementing Odira's place among the world's elite middle-distance runners. Her victory also earned her the standard Diamond League winner's prize of USD 10,000 (approximately Ksh1.2 million).