by Larry Eder
Distance phenomenon Genzebe Dibaba is targeting a world record in the 1500 metres at tomorrow’s Monaco Diamond League, but insists that she is yet to decide whether she will compete in the event at next month’s world championships alongside the 5000m.
Speaking in the pre-race press conference, the Ethiopian told the media that she was ready to move herself to the top of the al-time rankings, having ran the fastest time for 18 years in Barcelona two weeks ago. The 24 year-old, who smashed her personal best as she obliterated the field in the minor event in Spain, by running 3:54.11, said that she had been happy with her new PB result but not surprised.
When asked how quick she could go in the Stade Louis II stadium she replied through her translator “Tomorrow the goal is to run fast, I felt very comfortable at 3:54, So I want to go way faster than 3:54.”
Already a world record holder indoors over all distances between 1500m and 5k, the athlete has given clear evidence this season that she is starting to become an outdoor running expert too. Especially after running successive PB’s in Barcelona and Paris, in the space of four days.
Impressive running in all circumstances but especially when you consider that both times place her easily within the top-10 all-time respectively. So what has allowed her to start performing so well in the summer?
The big difference she said, is down to a change in her training regime: “I have changed a lot of things in training. Previously my training was based around speed but I have been working on my endurance more for this outdoor season,” ,Dibaba noted.
“There’s been much more intense training outdoors this year and now I believes I can do well outdoors.”
Despite her hopes for breaking the metric mile WR tomorrow, Dibaba still insists that she sees her chances of breaking the 5000m metre WR as more realistic. So it is no surprise that on the subject of her race preference she added “I prefer the 5000m, my body is more prepared for it.”
Even so, it seems a distinct possibility that may do both events at Beijing 2015, but for now it remains just that, a possibility: “I haven’t made my decision yet, I have to wait until tomorrow’s race to choose, although it will be , but if I made the choice for myself [between the two] it would be the 5000m, ” is how Genzebe Debaba ended her press conference.
