I'm not sure Tsegay realized how close she was to the world record. Down the stretch of the third lap I was looking at the clock and thinking this is very much in play. But you've got to begin pushing even harder. Haylom picked up the pace just as Tsegay should have been doing it. Tsegay looked over at Haylom in seemingly irritated fashion and stepped on the gas. But the prior 25 or 50 meters is when she needed to acelerate. Throughout the final lap it always looked like 3:50 and opportunity narrowly lost.
That number is definitely within Tsegay's grasp. She thrives under aggressive pacing. Very wise for Kipyegon to skip this event. You don't want to flip the pecking order and jumpstart Tsegay's confidence, just like Kipyegon's confidence soared when she defeated Hassan at Monaco 2021, her first post-maternity win over Hassan.
Huge brekthrough for Birke Haylom. It's remarkable how the terrain shifts from indoor to outdoor. I never expected that type of separation. Welteji and Hailu were nowhere. I think Welteji is now a bit jolted after so many consecutive defeats, the last two non-competitive. She's always had some issues with self belief and assertiveness.
Tsegay has some huge decisions to make regarding her Paris schedule.
Otherwise I thought the hilarity of the meet was Sha'carri primping her hair while awaiting her name to show up first on the board. Then she barely acknowledged the Australian when it went the other way.
Contrast to Beatrice Chepkoech. She is just like Bol in terms of warmly congratulating every finisher, no matter how far back or how far out of her way she has to walk.
Best world record attempt ever for Duplantis. Normally he brushes the bar or has some body part barely clearing. Today the vertical, the twist, and the arm position were all perfect. Supposedly he would have cleared 6.29. I think that's roughly where the record will be when he's finished. I'm not a believer in the 6.40 hype. Not without a breakthrough in pole technology.