29/06/2025
Too Many Pacers and a Missed Opportunity: Why Faithâs Sub-Four Mile Attempt Fell Short!
By Bob Anderson
I watched with high hopes as Faith Kipyegon attempted to become the first woman to break four minutes for the mileâthis time on the track in Paris. Nike clearly spent millions putting this event together. The lights, the controlled environment, the precision pacing system, the high-tech spikesâit was all there. Faith is one of the greatest middle-distance runners in history. If anyone could do it, she could. But what unfolded wasnât the historic breakthrough it could have been. It was, frankly, a case study in poor ex*****on.
Letâs talk about the pacers. Whoever made the decision to assign thirteen of them made a fundamental error. A great runner doesnât want five or six athletes stacked in front of her. Itâs not just about draftingâitâs about mental clarity, rhythm, and feeling in control. Instead of creating an ideal pacing setup, they created visual and physical chaos. It didnât feel like Faith was on the hunt for historyâit felt like she was caught in someone elseâs traffic jam.
The strategy should have been simple: three pacers. Thatâs it. Three men capable of running 3:58 for the mile. One slightly ahead of her to cut the wind and manage the pace. One at her side to maintain tempo. One behind to steady and support. And critically, with 400 meters to go, they should have faded and let her take the leadâlet her own the moment and drive the finish.
This wasnât a Diamond League race or a championship final. It was a fully staged time trial. Nike had total control over every variableâfrom the lighting system and pacing software to Faithâs state-of-the-art shoes, designed to give her the maximum mechanical advantage. The shoes themselvesâpart of Nikeâs elite spike lineâwere made for moments like this. But even the best gear in the world canât fix a flawed race plan.
Faith needed to feel like the leader. She needed space to surge and the right psychology. Instead, it looked and felt more like a corporate production than a runner-centric event. Too many distractions, too little intuition.
After the race, I reached out to Charles Ngeno, Faithâs former childhood coach and now a KATA Running Camp operator in Olenguruone, Kenya. He said it best:
âFaith is one of the most disciplined and gifted athletes Iâve ever worked with. She has what it takes to run under four minutes. But this wasnât the way. She needs a setup that gives her space, rhythm, and controlânot distraction. I believe she can do it, but next time the race must be for her, not for the cameras.â
Heâs right. Faith will have more chances. Sheâs too talented not to. But next time, I hope the planners listenâto athletes, to coaches, to those who understand whatâs required to break barriers. High-tech shoes and flashing lights donât make history. Precision, psychology, and smart pacing do.
This was a missed opportunity. Letâs not miss the next one.