by Justin LagatThe women’s 3000m was an amazing race. Hellen Obiri ran an amazing race and pushed seven in the event to PBs! Justin Lagat did this piece on the 2020 Doha Diamond League, the final event of the season.
Hellen Obiri, photo by Etienne Fiacre
The Doha Diamond League meeting delivered exciting and memorable moments to cherish. But, despite all the other great performances from Stewart Mcsweyn in the men’s 1500m, Faith Kipyegon in the women’s 800m, Ferguson Rotich in the men’s 800m, among others; the event of the evening would definitely go the women’s 3000m race.
2020 Doha Diamond League: Faith Kipyegon, athlete of the year? – RunBlogRun https://t.co/etAPXeMug9, @stuartweir, #diamondleague, #dohaDL, #europeanathletics, @kenyanathlete, @usatf, #theshoeaddicts, #runblogrun, @edharry1976, @FaithKipyegon, pic.twitter.com/dLXvAnktIq
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Anyone would have been fooled into thinking that it was an easy pace given the large pack that kept jostling together just behind Winnie Chebet, the pace setter. But, when they crossed the 1000m mark at 2:48, which was faster than the world record pace for the women’s 5000m, it became evident that a race to remember was unfolding.
Hellen Obiri takes the 3000m in 8:22.54, photo 1,
25 September 2020, Doha Diamond league, Doha, Qatar, photos via BBCTV by @stuartweir, @britathletics, #europeanathletics, #theshoeaddicts, #runblogrun, @diamond_league, @worldathletics, pic.twitter.com/jfEccsEBjh— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) September 25, 2020
Hellen Obiri trailed the pace setter closely while the rest of the field made her appear like a second pace setter for them. She did act the part for a while after the Chebet was done with her pacing duties with the others seeming to willingly allow her to control the pace.
Hellen Obiri takes the 3000m in 8:22.54, photo 2,
25 September 2020, Doha Diamond league, Doha, Qatar, photos via BBCTV by @stuartweir, @britathletics, #europeanathletics, #theshoeaddicts, #runblogrun, @diamond_league, @worldathletics, pic.twitter.com/zIK2DejMmx— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) September 25, 2020
At around the 2000m mark, Obiri slightly reduced the pace. Perhaps she had seen that the huge pack behind her comprising of the big stars was not going to be easily broken, and was deciding to reserve some energy for the final finishing kick. Beatrice Chepkoech seemed not to be buying into that idea and took to the front as the pace again began to quicken. Obiri reacted and followed her closely.
Hellen Obiri takes the 3000m in 8:22.54, photo 3,
25 September 2020, Doha Diamond league, Doha, Qatar, photos via BBCTV by @stuartweir, @britathletics, #europeanathletics, #theshoeaddicts, #runblogrun, @diamond_league, @worldathletics, pic.twitter.com/42RYC6Z8R5— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) September 25, 2020
At the bell, Obiri again sprang to the front as Chepkoech followed in hot pursuit. Behind them also in the pursuit was Agnes Tirop, Margaret Kipkemboi, Hyvin Kiyeng and Tsegay Gudaf. Despite the efforts of the chasers to close, the gap kept increasing gradually.
Agnes Tirop slowly began to close the gap on Chepkoech on the home stretch as Obiri maintained her lead at the front. Obiri won the race in a world leading time of 8:22.54. Tirop and Chepkoech registered the same personal best times of 8:22.92 to finish in second and third respectively as they led the three runners that came behind them into running their personal best times as well.
Hellen Obiri takes the 3000m in 8:22.54, photo 4,
25 September 2020, Doha Diamond league, Doha, Qatar, photos via BBCTV by @stuartweir, @britathletics, #europeanathletics, #theshoeaddicts, #runblogrun, @diamond_league, @worldathletics, pic.twitter.com/AYEdf7fOo9— RunBlogRun (@RunBlogRun) September 25, 2020
