Shangai Samsung Diamond League: Genzebe Dibaba Brillian in 1500, Kenenisa Bekele Runs 13:13.89
By LetsRun.com
May 19, 2012
Our full recap of the Shanghai Diamond League meet that was highlighted by Liu Xiang's 12.97 in the hurdles is now here. Full Results here.
Below is our recap of the two biggest distance highlights: Genzebe Dibaba's brilliant 3:57.77 win in the 1500m, and a recap of the men's 5000m where Kenenisa Bekele ran 13:13.89 in his first 5000m since 2009.
Women's 1500m: Genzebe Dibaba Is Brilliant
The Dibaba sister most likely to win gold in London is not the one you think it is.
Genzebe Dibaba, the world indoor 1500m champion and younger sister of 11 time World Champion Tirunesh Dibaba, ran away from fellow Ethiopian Abeba Aregawi the final 100m to win the 1500m in a stellar 3:57.77. It was the fastest time in the world since 2010 and the third fastest time since the last Olympics. Realize no one broke 4:00 in the entire world last year, yet Dibaba crushed it in the first real race of the year.
Sonja Roman rabbited the field through 800m at 2:08.02 (4:00 pace) then Dibaba took over the lead on the backstretch. She was closely followed by Aregawi and Ibtissam Lakhouad of Morocco, who was fourth at Worlds last year. Those three were clear of everyone at the bell. With 200m to go it was a two woman race between the Ethiopians.
Dibaba entered the final stretch with a slight lead on Aregawi and then powered away the final 100m to the super impressive winning time. Aregawi was rewarded with her first sub 4:00 clocking.
Further back in fourth was world indoor 3000m champion Helen Obiri in 4:03.15.
QT: Just like on the men's side where there were no sub 3:30 clockings last year at all, then two in the first Diamond League meet of the this year, the women did the same thing with sub 4:00.
Dibaba has clearly found her event. She was 8th in the World last year at 5000m. That 5000m strength should help her in the rounds at the Olympics. She's the favorite for gold in London, but can she run away from the best of the world there?
Intermediate times: |
Final Lap Women's 1500 (US Visitors Only) |
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Men's 5000m: Kenenisa Bekele Runs 13:13.89 But It's Not Time to Panic Yet
This race was about one thing. The weather. In a strong rain and shitty conditions, no one wanted to run fast. A 4:15 first 1600, followed by a 4:17, insured this race was going to come down to the kick and the field waited until the final lap. At the bell at least 10 guys were still in contention.
The last lap wasn't particularly fast 54.35, but Ethiopian Hagos Gebrhiwet, running his first international track 5000m ever, was clearly best on it, as he got the win in 13:11.00 over Kenya's Thomas Longosiwa.
Kenenisa Bekele who was well back in the pack throughout the race, moved up the last lap to finish in a respectable 5th in 13:13.89.
QT: This race was subpar all-around. People will obviously be a little more motivated in London. Any 5000m that comes down to solely a 400m kick will likely have a surprise winner.
Sometimes not the most talented guy, but the guy who wants the race the most wins it. That appeared to be the case here. Gebrhiwet has a very bright future (he was second at Carlsbad if some of you think the name sounds familiar), as he only officially turned 18 last week, but he wanted this race the most. Winning it means a lot more for his career than most of the other guys in the field. Bekele looked like many of the Americans in Diamond League 5000s, happy to be in the main pack, but not believing they can win. The winner of the 3000m in Doha, sub 3:30 1500m man Augustine Choge, who is moving up to 5000m this year, was in contention throughout and at the bell, but once out of contention he faded and finished behind Bekele.
What does this mean for Bekele? Probably what we knew last week. He is not race sharp, but can not be written off for the Olympics. The 10,000m in Hengelo at the end of the month which is serving as the Ethiopian Olympic Trials, will be a better indication of where he stands. People may want to right Bekele off, but he finished ahead of Choge and Yenew Alamirew. The Olympics are 11 weeks away, plenty of time to get sharp.
If it rains in London, it will be interesting. Bernard Lagat told us this week, "That's my weakness, I can't run in the rain...especially on the track."
Speaking of Lagat, announcer Tim Hutchings said on the broadcast that Augustine Choge is going to travel to America to spend three weeks training with Bernard Lagat.
More: Rojo Speaks: Is Kenenisa Bekele Done?
On the boards: Is Bekele Done?
Intermediate times: |
Final Lap of Men's 5000 (Us Visitors Only) |
*Full 2012 Shanghai Results here.
On the boards: Is Bekele Done?
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