• Faith Kipyegon attempted to break the four-minute mile at the Nike "Breaking4" event.
• She finished with a time of 4:06.42, just over one second faster than her 2023 world record.
• The event is unofficial and won't be ratified as a world record due to its setup with pacers.

On June 26, Faith Kipyegon attempted to become the first woman to run under four minutes for a mile at the Nike "Breaking4" project in Paris, clocking a time of 4:06.42. Despite falling short of the historic milestone, she finished faster than her previous world record of 4:07.64. Kipyegon highlighted the significance of the event despite its unofficial status, stating, “I gave everything – and I think the WaveLights gave everything too,” according to Africanews and Channel News Asia.

The attempt took place at Stade Charléty, a track where Kipyegon holds world records in both the 1,500m and 5,000m events. The race featured 13 elite pacemakers, who played a significant role in assisting her, although similar setups in performance records cannot count for official recognition. This mirrors Eliud Kipchoge’s sub-two-hour marathon effort in 2019 whereby pacers were also used, according to Reuters and Reuters.

Despite the conditions being ideal with warm temperatures and minimal wind, Kipyegon's race ended in disappointment as she fell short by just over one second from her goal. She expressed her determination to continue striving for this remarkable record, affirming, “It’s only a matter of time but I think it will come our way,” according to NPR and Channel News Asia.