by Justin Lagat
Like the calm before the storm, there was less action on the morning of day 3 of the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing. The evening was entirely of exciting track action as USA’s Josh Hoey, Norway’s Jakob Ingebrigtsen, South Africa’s Prudence Sekgodiso, and Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay produced some of the fantastic performances of the day.
The first track final of the day was the men’s 1500m race, in which Norway’s Ingebrigtsen returned for another title after he had won the 3000m race the previous day. To avoid a crowded pack, Ingebrigtsen went to the front after the first 700m and maintained a decent pace. At 1000m, there was some jostling at the front as Ingebrigtsen fought to hold the lead and got in contact with Raphael Pallitsch of Austria. An appeal would later be launched and rejected. In a sprint finish, Ingebritsen held off the strong finishing Neil Gourley of Great Britain to cross the finish line in 3:38.79. Gourley registered 3:39.07 for silver ahead of USA’s Luke Houser, who finished 3:39.07 for the bronze medal.
Tsegay produced what could arguably be the moment of the evening in the women’s 1500m final, registering a time she alone has ever run faster in the sport’s history. Leading from gun to tape and opening a significant gap in the rest of the competition, she crossed the finish line in 3:54.86, the fourth fastest time in history and a new championship record. Her teammate, Diribe Welteji, finished second in 3:59.30, while in a new personal best time, Great Britain’s Georgia Bell won bronze in 3:59.84.
In a spectacular women’s 800m race that saw all, except one, of the runners at the end smiling with some lifetime achievements, Sekgodiso ran a world-leading and personal best time of 1:58.40 to emerge victorious. Ethiopia’s Nigist Getachew took home the silver medal in a personal best time of 1:59.63, and Portugal’s Patricia Silva ran a new national record of 1:59.80 to win the bronze medal. Fourth-placed Audrey Werro of Switzerland also registered a new national record of 1:59.81, while Ann Wielgosz of Poland registered a PB of 2:00.34. Only Ethiopia’s Tsige, who was here to defend her title, may not have had a great run as she finished last in 2:04.76.
With a world-leading time, USA’s Hoey came in as the favorite to win the men’s 800m race, and he did. However, pacing much of the race almost cost him. He had to dig deeper to hold off Belgium’s Eliott Crestan at the finish line. His winning time was 1:44.77 against Crestan’s 1:44.81. Spain’s Elvin Canales finished third in 1:45.03.
