In a performance that seamlessly bridged her legendary track career with a promising future on the pavement, Faith Kipyegon won the Monaco Run 10K on Sunday, making a victorious and highly impressive debut over the distance.
The 32-year-old Kenyan, widely celebrated as the greatest women’s 1500m runner in history, crossed the finish line in a swift 29:46 signaling that her unparalleled middle-distance prowess translates powerfully to the roads.
Executing her race with the same tactical composure that has defined her dominance on the track, Kipyegon navigated the 10-kilometer course through the streets of Monaco with patience and power.
She passed the 5-kilometer mark in a controlled 14:59, content to let the race unfold before making her decisive move. There was a brief moment of tension around the 7.5-kilometer point when she momentarily lost the lead, a rarity for an athlete of her caliber.
However, she responded with the champion’s instinct that has earned her three Olympic and four world titles, surging over the final two kilometers to secure the victory .
While her time places her joint 14th on the world all-time list for the road 10km, the significance of Sunday’s race extended far beyond the clock.
For an athlete in her road racing debut, the manner of the win, a negative split, running the second half faster than the first, was a testament to her world-class fitness and racing intelligence.
Kipyegon, who also holds the world records in the 1500m and the mile, has long cherished Monaco as a special venue, having set her world mile mark here in 2023. This appearance, however, marked a new challenge.
“I just enjoy coming to Monaco,” she said before the race, hinting at her ambition. “It’s a very special place where I usually enjoy running track and now I am here on a different mission, to run on the road. This is another challenge – to do more than 5km on the road”.
The challenge was met with flying colors, and her victory has immediately sparked curiosity about what the future holds for the athlete coached by Eliud Kipchoge’s mentor, Patrick Sang.
In a social media post following her triumph, Kipyegon herself fanned the flames of speculation about a potential shift in her career trajectory. “What a beautiful morning! Grateful for my 29:47 10k debut on the roads and already looking forward to more,” she wrote on Instagram. “Thanks a lot to @monacorun for the organisation and to everyone for the support!”.
The 2025 season was already a historic one for Kipyegon; she shattered her own 1500m world record with a stunning 3:48.68 in Eugene and secured her fourth consecutive world title in the distance at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
She also claimed silver in the 5000m and set a new African record in the 3000m.
With this commanding road debut now in the books, the athletics world will be watching intently to see if the track queen is poised to conquer a new frontier, following a path blazed by stars like Sifan Hassan.