HENGELO, NETHERLANDS, June 3–4 — Is there anything Sifan Hassan can’t do? The reigning queen of range, she of the 1:56.81 (800) and 2:18:33 (marathon) PRs put on another stunning display, this time at the FBK Games in this city in the east of the Netherlands. The 30-year-old Olympic 5/10K champion first produced a world-leading 10,000 with her 29:37.80 on Saturday night. It was the No. 6 performance in history, and more than enough to handle Kenya’s Grace Loibach Nawowuna, who ran 29:47.42 to become the No. 7 performer ever.
Hassan had led from 4K on, passing halfway in 14:46.01. Nawowuna made an appearance in the lead before the 9K mark. However, a 60.86 last lap from Hassan was more than enough to win by most of the straightaway.
Then, just 24 hours, 25 minutes later, Hassan lined up against a solid 1500 field and bided her time as they passed laps at 63.03, 2:09.06 and 3:13.51; she took the lead in the final 300 and held off Kenyan Nelly Chepchirchir while covering that last ¾s of a lap in 44.5 to clock 3:58.12. Chepchirchir, an 800 runner till this season, celebrated her 20th birthday with a 4.12-second PR of 3:58.96.
Of the 1500, Hassan said, “I followed and the last 200 meters, I finished strong. I didn’t push myself and I still finished very well in the sprint.”
What’s next? “I’m just trying to focus on that gold medal and right now, I’m just going to go meet by meet, try to get a little bit better every time to make sure I’m nice and sharp for the big dance.” She has indicated she will likely double in the 5/10K in Budapest.
The meet’s other big highlight came from the ever-reliable Mondo Duplantis, who produced a performance that would have been huge news had anyone else done it. For the World Recordholder, however, a 20-½ (6.11) outdoor world leader has ironically become, well… ho-hum? Yet it was the 23-year-old’s 14th career meet over the 20-foot barrier, and he beat Australian Kurt Marschall (19-¾/5.81) by nearly a foot.
He made three attempts at a new WR 20-5¼ (6.23) but didn’t come close. “I probably didn’t have the legs to jump that high,” he commented.
Closer to the earth’s surface, Grant Holloway delivered a 13.03 win in the hurdles over the season best of Devon Allen (13.12), with Eric Edwards (13.29) and Freddie Crittenden (13.33)…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at Track & Field News…