2013 Prefontaine Classic Women’s 1500: Hellen Obiri Wins in 3:58 as Treniere Moser and Sheila Reid Run 4:02

by LetsRun.com
June 1, 2013

Eugene, OR – In her last race, Kenya’s 19-year old sensation Faith Kipyegon set national and national junior records at 3:56.98, but given her inexperience and her age, we said in our preview she was by no means a guarantee for victory in Eugene.

That certainly proved to be the case today as Kenya’s Hellen Obiri, the 2012 World indoor champion as well as 2012 Olympic 1500 finalist, was way better than Kipyegon on the last lap winning the 2013 Prefontaine Classic women’s 1500 in 3:58.58 to Kiypegon’s 4:01.08 for second.

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The lone American racer in the field had a great day. The resurgence that started when 31-year old multi-time US champ Treniere Moser switch to Alberto Salazar for coaching continued as she PRd in 4:02.85 for fifth.

1500 Metres - Women                                           

    1 Obiri , Hellen Onsando           KEN    3:58.58                   
    2 Kipyegon , Faith Chepngetich     KEN    4:01.08                   
    3 Langat , Nancy Jebet             KEN    4:01.41                   
    4 Hilali , Siham                   MAR    4:02.16                   
    5 Moser , Treniere                 USA    4:02.85                   
    6 Reid , Sheila                    CAN    4:02.96                   
    7 Sum , Eunice Jepkoech            KEN    4:03.13                   
    8 England , Hannah                 GBR    4:03.38                   
    9 Soboleva , Elena                 RUS    4:04.30                   
   10 Lakhouad , Btissam               MAR    4:04.63                   
   11 Weightman , Laura                GBR    4:05.36                   
   12 Kuria , Mary                     KEN    4:05.54                   
   13 Bogale , Tizita                  ETH    4:26.42
      Wallace , Lea                    USA        DNF                   
      Pierce , Anna                    USA        DNS

Quick Take (QT) #1: A big win and PR for Obiri who ran 3:59.68 last year in Rome. With her 3:58.58, there already are four women under 3:59 this year. Obiri is running like the woman who won world indoors at 3000 last year, and not the woman who was dead last in the Olympic 1500 final last year.

QT #2: Moser’s resurgence will give old-timers and people like Alan Webb hope that they too can somehow become better than ever after years of misery. Moser’s 1500 pb prior to today was 4:03.38 which dated from 2006 when she placed 8th in Rieti. Since then, tilastopaja says she’d run 52 1500s (or miles where there was a 1500 split) and none had even been under 4:05. Now she runs 4:02. Incredible.

QT #3: Anna Willard (formerly Anna Pierce) was a DNS. No races for her this year so we think you can write her off in terms of the 2013 World team.

QT #4: The biggest PR though for a 4:02 runner today didn’t come from Moser but rather former NCAA champ Sheila Reid. The Canadian ran 4:02.96 when her previous pb was 4:07.07.

We caught up with her and she obviously was very happy. Interview below.

More LRC Pre Coverage:
Highlight:Women’s 800:High Schooler Mary Cain Breaks 2:00 As Francine Niyonsaba Dominates

Men:
5k: Mo Farah is Beaten By Edwin Soi as Galen Rupp Finishes Sixth
Bowerman Mile: Silas Kiplagat Steals The Race From Asbel Kiprop at The Line as 9 Guys Run 3:51 or Faster
Steeple: Conseslus Kipruto Survives Ezekiel Kemboi’s Shove; Evan Jager 8:08
Men’s 800: Mohammed Aman Dominates As Nick Symmonds Debuts in Third

Women:
5k: Tirunesh Dibaba Survives A Scare From Mercy Cherono
1500: Hellen Obiri Wins in 3:58 as Treniere Moser and Sheila Reid Run 4:02

Friday: Kenenisa Bekele Wins 10,000m, But Time Disappoints at 2013 Prefontaine Classic
*Men’s International Mile: James Magut Wins, No HS Sub-4 As Will Leer Gets Top American Honors as Andrew Wheating Runs ‘Scared’
*Men’s National 1500: Garrett Heath Wins, Chris Solinsky’s Lacking Speed And Alan Webb Struggles But Is Happy
*Women’s 800: Phoebe Wright Gets The Win, Ajee Wilson’s Winning Streak Comes To An End And Gabrielle Anderson PR’s

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