ACTION MÜLLER ANNIVERSARY GAMES, LONDON
THE focus was on Sifan Hassan to
see if she could add to her record-
breaking 2019.
However, while she set a
European record, the Dutch athlete
was ultimately well beaten by world
champion Hellen Obiri.
The pace was never really fast
enough for a global mark as Natalie
Rule led through 1000m in 2:53.
and Winnie Nanyondo through
2000m in 5:48.44 which is outside
14:30 pace.
The third kilometre was even
slower as Gloriah Kite led through
3000m in a disappointing 8:46.22,
well down on the advertised pace
and now the world record looked
impossible.
Hassan had sat at the back of the
leading group of 10 through most of
the first half but she powered ahead
and added some much needed
impetus as she led through 4000m
in 11:39.09. Her laps of 66.94 and
65.48 meant she had just Obiri and
Tirop for company at the bell.
Obiri kicked past down the back
straight and Hassan stayed close
but with her speed blunted by herearlier effort, could not produce her
usual kick and was picked off by
Tirop down the straight.
The Kenyan won in a world-
leading and meeting record
14:20.36 to come within two
seconds of her PB and run a time
that only four other athletes have
ever beaten.
Obiri ran the last 400m in 62.
and covered the final kilometre in2:41 and 1500m in 4:05. Tirop’s time
was the fastest ever losing time.
Obiri said: “In the last lap I was
thinking, work hard and went I past
Hassan thought ‘let me go and see
if you can catch me’.
Tirop was second in a PB
14:20.68 to go sixth all-time.
Hassan struggled across the
line in 14:22.12 which marginally
improved her European record of14:22.34 and she now sits eighth
all-time.
The Dutch athlete said; “I went
out fast but I’m still very tired from
the mile in Monaco last week, both
physically and emotionally. But I
still ran a PB, so I’m happy.”
Laura Weightman set a PB
14:51.78 in 12th to go sixth all-time
in the UK. Her 3000m time was
8:55.5 and she felt she could have
gone quicker but had to lead the
chasing gtroup through the middle
laps.
She said; “I just wanted to come
out and run hard today and I did
that. I’m pleased; it was a solid
time. We came in wanting to get an
Olympic and World qualifying time
and we’ve done that. I’d like to run
faster though.”
Just behind her Eilish McColgan
was 13th in 14:51.89, despite
suffering from a cold.
Jessica Judd and Rosie Clarke
set PBs of 15:16.47 and 15:19.75 to
gain Doha qualifiers back in 17th
and 18th but Melissa Courtney
dropped out after passing 3000m
in 9:01.3.THE women’s long jump was a high-quality
affair but saw a clear victory for world
leader and European champion Malaika
Mihambo.
The German won in a meeting record
7.02m and had further jumps of 6.96m and
6.93m to underline her superiority.
She said: “Yeah, it was really good,
tough due to changing headwinds, big
headwinds.
“Overall though I really enjoyed it. I’m
really pleased with how I performed and
came away with a win.
“It’s my first time competing here and
I really enjoyed jumping in this stadium;
London has been great and the crowd
made the event so much enjoyableas well. I’m back to training straight
away in preparation for the national
championships, then on to competing in
the 100m which will be interesting.”
Brittney Reese finished strongly to jump
6.82m and finish second.
Third place went to Berlin runner-up
Maryna Bekh-Romanchuk with 6.78m
and the Ukranian now leads the Diamond
League standings by a point from
Mihambo.
Britain’s Lorraine Ugen was fifth
in 6.62m with heptathlete Johnson-
Thompson not at her very best over the
weekend, finishing seventh in 6.47m.
The 2015 world silver medallist Shara
Proctor had three no jumps.Mihambo on course
for Doha success
Obiri beats Hassan over 5000m
Hellen Obiri: outsprints Agnes Tirop and Sifan Hassan in fast 5000m
Malaika Mihambo:
long jump meeting
record of 7.02m