EUGENE, Ore. >> Kenyan Faith Kipyegon turned in a standing-ovation worthy performance in setting a world record in the 1,500 meters on Saturday at the Prefontaine Classic, and Aptos native Nikki Hiltz, the fifth-place finisher, was among those applauding the rival’s showing.

Kipyegon, a three-time Olympic champion in the event, finished in 3 minutes, 48.68 seconds and bested her own record of 3:49.04, set last July before the Paris Games.

“The crowd’s clapping and right as we’re all clapping, too,” said Hiltz, during a post-race interview with on-site media, after finishing in 3:55.96. “I think it speaks to how good of a person she is and how she lifts all of us up. I’m like the biggest Faith supporter/fan.”

Kipyegon, 31, sprinted alone down the stretch cheered by the sellout crowd at Hayward Field. After crossing the finish line, she wrapped herself in the Kenyan flag.

Ethiopian Diribe Welteji took second in 3:51.44, and Australian Jessica Hull, who was the silver medalist behind Kipyegon at the Olympics last year, was third in 3:52.67.

“To be honest, the ladies are pushing me too because they are running quick now and I’m happy that when I broke a world record, they are all running very fast, and that is what I wanted, to motivate the younger generation to come and do even better. For them to follow me, it feels so great that they are pushing me as well to break records,” Kipyegon said.

Last month Kipyegon failed in a bid to become the first woman to run a mile in under four minutes. She ran 4:06.42 — the fastest mile in history by a woman — at Stade Charléty in Paris.

Her time was better than her world record of 4:07.64 but won’t be recognized because the Nike-sponsored event was unofficial.

“I think the changes were that I was preparing myself for something special, which was to run under four minutes in a mile and I think I pushed myself, getting better and better toward the 1,500, so I knew it was possible to still run under 3:49,” she said.

Kipyegon also has won the 1,500 at the last three World Championships. She was second in the 5,000 at the Paris Olympics last summer.

Great Britain’s Georgia Hunter Bell took fourth on Saturday in 3:54.76 and was followed by Hiltz and fellow American Sinclaire Johnson (3:56.93).

Hiltz, who identifies as transgender and nonbinary, and uses they/them pronouns, was happy with their race.

“It was good,” Hiltz said. “I think I kinda fell asleep a little bit, because I looked up and their was a gap. And I was like, ‘Shoot.’ But I think I lag a lot of it, which is fine. I’m happy for myself for staying on a hot pace. When Georgia went around me I was actually grateful I had a body to race. Yeah, 3:55, I can’t complain. That’s my second fastest time, ever. So, yeah, I’m pleased with that.”

Hiltz plans to return to Flagstaff, Arizona, to continue training and return to action at the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Eugene on July 31-Aug. 3.

“I’m big on training,” Hiltz said. “I love racing, but in order to run these times, you have to put in the work. So I think, get a little bit stronger and sharper, and then come back in a month.”

Writer Anne M. Peterson of the Associated Press contributed to this report.