Sifan Hassan, will she be celebrating more medal wins in 1,500m and 10,000m? photo by Orangepictures.nl
Paul Chelimo, can he win another medal? photo by Kevin Morris / Kevmofoto
This is a short preview by Justin Lagat, our senior writer from Kenya, on the women’s 1,500m and Men’s 5000m. Both should ba amazing races!
Seriously, can anyone beat Faith Kipyegon? pnoto by Etienne Fiacre/ Diamond League AG
As Netherland’s Sifan Hassan seeks to have an unprecedented treble victory at the Tokyo Olympic Games, she will be facing her greatest obstacle tomorrow in the name of Faith Kipyegon of Kenya during the women’s 1500m final. The two have raced two times against each other this year where Hassan ran 3:53.63 at the diamond league meeting in Firenze to beat Kipyegon, and Kipyegon answered that with a national record of 3:51.07 to beat her at the Monaco diamond league meeting.
Like it happened in the highly anticipated duel between Rai Benjamin and Karsten Warholm in men’s 400mH final, this race is set out to be thrilling and exciting.
In the men’s 5000m final, the two Ugandans who won silver and bronze in the 10,000m race on the first day of athletics will be back. They also have a third runner, Oscar Chelimo who could be a great team player in ensuring that the race goes to them. Joshua Cheptegei who holds the world record of the event at 12:35.36 will be hoping to upgrade the medal he won last Friday to a gold medal. His teammate, Jacob Kiplimo also has the third best personal time of 12:48.63 on the start list.
Ahmed Mohammed of Canada who was also in the 10,000m final and finished 6th has the second-fastest time of 12:47.20 on the start list, which makes him one of the main contenders for the medals here.
Mohamed Katir has rapidly risen seemingly out of nowhere from earlier in the year and will be one of the main runners to watch out for as well, especially after beating Kenya’s Nicholas Kimeli at the Muller Grand Prix event in Gateshead. Kimeli will also be present at the finals and will perhaps be seeking an opportunity to square it out again with Katie.
Other runners to watch out for include Paul Chelimo and Grant Fisher of the USA, Milkesa Mengistu of Ethiopia, and Justyn Knight of Canada.
