MatthewXCountry wrote:
To those doubting this performance. She has been going out at 2:10 pace for many years, splitting the first half regularly in 65. This is just the first time she's successfully held it.
I agree it feels unbelievable, but honestly Assefa's felt more unbelievable than this result, due to the above fact.
Imho, her result is easily within the realm of possibility, as it might've just been a day when everything clicked, and she was able to hold onto the scorching pace she loves to start at. I'm suspending my disbelief and can believe that this was done cleanly, especially since this background reminds me of my all time favorite, Geb.
From runblogrun.com in 2021:
The oldest of five children (two girls, three boys), Chepngetich was born and raised in Kericho. It was during her time at Sigowet Primary School where her passion for athletics started. She would run the 4km distance to school each morning, then return home at midday for lunch before running back to school in the afternoon and returning in the evening, covering a total distance of 16 kilometres each day.
...
Chepngetich has been largely self-coached, but occasionally joins a local group of male athletes for some of their sessions.
“I obviously know what works for me in training, so I don’t need a coach,” says Chepngetich, who covers about 170km [105.6 miles] a week in training. “So long as I have some good male training partners that can push me, then I am fine.”
...
Except that she's a mom:
Her daughter Sharleen, now 10, is another big reason why Chepngetich continues to push herself hard in training.