Aussiestatman wrote:
Not only 8 under 8.30 already but also 21yo Gidey just outside and two 20yo Ethiopians have made massive breakthroughs already this year (Fantu Worku and Hawi Feysa). For me it’s kipkirui over Hassan and Worku.
Feysa barely ran sub 5:40 in the 2k, it would be very surprising if she could run the same pace in the 3k. But one of course one never knows with 20 yo East Africans coming from nowhere.
Gidey is probably a contender and Worku maybe if it does not get too fast too early.
But 8:29 might not get one more than 7th or 8th place in such a race. If Ayana is back to form, I expect her to keep the pace high early/mid-race because Hassan and Dibaba are the strongest in a fast last two laps. Obiri beat Dibaba in Doha but was weak in Stockholm. I still think Hassan and Dibaba will be the strongest both in a very fast or not so fast race.