Athletics-Welteji and Kessler set world records to win road mile titles

FILE PHOTO: Athletics - World Athletics Championship - Women's 1500m Final - National Athletics Centre, Budapest, Hungary - August 22, 2023 Silver medallist Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji reacts after the final REUTERS/Aleksandra Szmigiel/File Photo

(Reuters) - Two road world records tumbled on Sunday when American Hobbs Kessler surged to victory in the men's mile and Ethiopia's Diribe Welteji beat Faith Kipyegon in the women's race at the inaugural Road Running Championships in Riga.

Kessler won the men's race with a time of 3:56.13, finishing ahead of Britain's Callum Elson and compatriot Sam Prakel, shaving five seconds off the previous record set by Prakel in April.