Sifan Hassan to run all three events at worlds

So proud 🥲

I’m not actually discounting her: I won’t be surprised if she places 2nd. The 1500 is the big question mark for her and I’m just taking basically a shot in the dark that she’ll finish outside the medals.

I think she’s giving considerable consideration in her training to Chicago. This (translated) quote indicates that her main focus has been Chicago:

The reasoning she provides for running the triple is not “to make history by winning an unprecedented triple” but rather “I like challenges, I like athletics”. She says she’s running for golds but mentions that if she gets three 5ths, it’s fine as long as she’s given her best. She also says she went through a rough patch in training after her Hengelo double.

Finally, I don’t think the 1500 is going to be a 3:50 race. I doubt Kipyegon is going to set a hot pace from the front in the first 800, and I can’t see Hassan replicating her Doha performance. I don’t think this necessarily hurts Hassan since she’s got awesome finishing speed, but being the strongest 10k athlete in the race might not matter in a last lap sprint vs. a bunch of focused 3:54-3:56 women when Hassan has a 10k in her legs.

One is genuinely stoked to run ~15 miles of track races in a week span, 6 weeks before the Chicago marathon, while the other is scared to run 3 800s (2 of which she doesn’t even have to try hard in). The runway will still be there in the off-season!

Good points per usual. That Chicago quote is interesting though I'm not sure how much I buy it! If it were really true, she could really sensibly just run the 10K, leave the 5K open and scratch it later on if she wasn't feeling tremendous. The rough patch in training, I guess I'm not too surprised and I wouldn't make too much of it considering how well she ran in that London 5,000. I guess the way I'm seeing it is Faith will probably control a tactical (3:56-4:00) 1500 race. I can really see her separating at 500 or 400 to go with a 28-second 200 and it being curtains for everyone else. There I think Hassan starts with her monster stride (sub-59 pace). And really passing her is easier said than done as she should be able to hold it to the line. We've seen some good kicks from a lot of these more untested athletes and they will be fresher. Totally fair there, but I trust her maybe outlasting them and running the shortest line. Could totally see F. Hailu, Mageean, Welteji or Meshesha proving me wrong late. That last 100 of course was Hassan's achilles heel last year. But I think she's in much better shape.

She's definitely being underestimated in the 1500, due to the situational influence. Tsegay's absence changes everything. Minus Tsegay there is nobody guaranteed to push the pace. It is very unlikely to happen. And with Kipyegon doubling for the first time it's high likelihood she will be more mindful of saving energy, if at all possible.

I could easily see this turning into one of the Kipyegon/Hassan battles of yesteryear, where they are concerned with each other and nobody else. They are at or near the front but the pace is not fast at all. They separate at the bell and run together, but don't really take off in a dead sprint until the 200 mark. That has always been Kipyegon's go-zone.

Sure, Kipyegon is heavy favorite in that scenario but it's hardly the way most fans are interpreting it, as a 3:49 runner versus someone who is currently not capable of anything close to that number.

See the 2021 Diamond League final for the most recent example of the above scenario.

Hassan looks at the triple for Worlds. Mu won't even race at the worlds. Hassan will be remembered for her attempt on all three. Mu will just be forgotten.

Superior religious ethos

Of course, the other option for Kipyegon is to reverse the tables from Doha 2019. In that race Hassan handicapped the situation as Kipyegon not at her best off maternity leave, therefore the ideal tactic is to take off early and run a time that Kipyegon simply isn't capable of. It worked in spectacular fashion. Hassan cruised for 300 then circled the field and darted away.

It might be Kipyegon's best strategy in Budapest. I don't see her doing it because the fear factor is not the same. Hassan 2019 wanted no part of a sprint finish because she's lost the majority of them. Kipyegon 2023 will realize she has the upper hand in a sprint, and likely to greater percentage than their series norm.

Don't discount Sifan Hassan...she nows how to push and motivate herself.Kipyegon knows that.The problem for Hassan is that the field has improved alot.The Kipyegon of circa 2023 is alot more faster and stronger than the one of 2021,Gidey,Tsegay and the Ethiopians youngstars are in much better form than in 2021, There is no 14:18 runner obiri but there is Chebet.Hassan has more stiff challenge than Tokyo.

Pulling double gold and bronze will be a tall order for her.I think the 5000 metres is her best bet.As most runners will be doubling back.Of all the favourite Hassan is the one with the most experience of doubling.Kipyegon lack experience in championship 5000 metres though her speed and strength is un matched,Tsegay's kick work best in super fast races,Chebet is a wild card.

Hassan has more challenge in the 10000 metres as it will be the first event and every one is fresh . Sifan 's kick work best in a not so fast race but the presence of Tsegay and Gidey will be hard as they will be pushing the pace relentless.Tsegay relies on her strength more than kick.

Sifan Hassan defeating Kipyegon will be a tall order.Kipyegon is good in any kind of tactics.The tactict that worked for her in 2019 Doha and 2021Florence no longer works as Kipyegon has evolved to be much harder to beat in faster paced races.Hassan medaling in 1500 metres requires a faster pace.A much faster pace but that may not even be enough.The Ethiopians youngstars have improved amazingly and Muir may regain her old form.Chicago will also be so interesting.If Ruth makes mistakes then Hassan will take the title.

Faith needs to win one gold and then focus on the next. Why on earth would she open herself to some sort of freak outcome and not push the pace from the front. She’s literally 5 seconds clear of everybody else, maybe charitably 3-4 seconds clear of Hassan. No Faith should 100% do the Doha and win this race in 3:52-3 at the slowest. It would be silly to open it up. Yes, her kick is best, but she could be boxed or something. If this race is 3:56 or slower she’s giving them all a punchers chance of a knockout.

There is not much talking on what the effect is of jet lags, athletes travel long distances very close to racing days, considering Faith, Chebet, Gidey and Tsegay are not coming from a very different time zone and Hassan has to balance out a gap of about 9 hours in her biorhythm, wondering if athletes are taking jet lags seriously into account (could be, another reason why a fair amount of US athletes don't want to get over the pond to Budapest).

Yes, because this is their first rodeo?

Sifan's run in 2019 had nothing to do with her not wanting a sprint finish. She wanted to PB and run sub 3:52. She was also angry about the Salazar stuff and wanted to run "all out".

I think it goes back to Hassans comment at the olympics. I know this is crazy but I like crazy. I love her attitude.

Sifan > SML and Athing Mu

Shows up even when she's not a lock to win or 100%. I don't care how she does, this is what the sport needs. Now I'm not saying every athlete should triple like this, but come on. SML and Athing Mu can't even run one event??? Pathetic.

This is EXCITING!

Hassan probably hasn't ever said this, but she could say, "Any race, any distance, any competition, any time....Yeah!"

To me this reads that her Chicago buildup isn't going great, and she's less likely to get criticized for a poor performance if she just ran six races at Worlds. My prediction is bronze in the 10k and just out of the medals in the other two, but it's still Hassan so I'm never gonna write her off completely. It is refreshing how much she loves to compete.