Dibaba, Souleiman set world records – Rudisha returns to Australia for Oly build–up
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STOCKHOLM, Feb 18, (Agencies): Genzebe Dibaba set a new world record in the indoor mile on Wednesday, beating a record that had stood for 26 years.
The Ethiopian’s time of 4 minutes, 13.31 seconds beat Doina Melinte’s record set in East Rutherford, New Jersey, in 1990 by nearly four seconds. It was the third consecutive year Dibaba had set an indoor world record in Stockholm, having previously set the 3,000 and 5,000 meter records.
Dibaba, who was voted World Athlete of the Year in 2015, was understandably delighted with her latest visit to the Swedish capital.
“I know this track well, and it is very good for me,” she said. “I am very happy with this record. And I think I will be able to run even faster this season.”
On a night of record breaking at the World Indoor Tour event, Djibouti’s Ayanleh Souleiman also set a new indoor record for the 1,000, streaking away on the final lap of the race to clock 2:14.20.
The previous record of 2:14.96 had been set by Denmark’s Wilson Kipketer in 2000.
After the race, Souleiman praised the pacemaker.
“After I passed 800m in 1:46, I knew I would have the record,” he said. “This is my first world record, and I am very happy.”
Both records still need to be ratified by the ruling IAAF.
In the 500 meter race, Abdalelah Haroun of Qatar dug deep to finish in a world’s best time of 59.83 seconds ahead of Onkabetse Nkobolo of Botswana.
Meanwhile, 39–year–old Kim Collins from Saint Kitts and Nevis proved once again that age hasn’t diminished his speed winning the 60 meter sprint in 6.56 seconds, ahead of Americans Mike Rodgers and Joseph Morris.
In other events on a dramatic night, Adam Kszczot of Poland finished strongly to overtake Qatar’s Musaeb Balla on the home straight to win the 800 meters in a world leading time of 1:45.63. Mohamed Aman of Ethiopia was third.
In the 3,000 meters, Morocco’s Abdalaati Iguider of Morocco was strong enough to hold off the challenge Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia to win in 7:39.04.
Canadian Tim Nedow threw a personal best 21.33 meters to win the men’s shot put, beating Poland’s Michal Haratyk into second and German Lauro of Argentina into third.
Meanwhile, world championship silver medalist Shara Proctor was beaten into third place in the long jump by fellow Briton, Lorraine Ugen. Ksenija Balta of Estonia won the event with a season’s best 6.76 meters.
Kenyan Olympic and world champion David Rudisha will begin his build–up to this year’s Rio Olympics in Australia next month, Athletics Australia said on Thursday.
The world 800–metre record holder will compete at the IAAF Melbourne World Challenge and the Perth Track Classic.
It will be the 27–year–old’s fifth trip to Melbourne, and his first appearance in Perth.
“I’m really looking forward to getting back to Australia, it has played such an important part in my programme over the years,” Rudisha said in a statement.
“As I ready for the Olympic Games again I am keen to duplicate the build–up that worked in 2012.
“Perth is somewhere that I haven’t competed before and I always look forward to running in a new city.”
Rudisha will be joined in Australia by a fellow Kenyan, the 1500m runner James Magut, Jamaican 400m hurdler Kaliese Spencer and compatriot Christine Day in the 400m.
The IAAF Melbourne World Challenge takes place on March 5 followed by the Perth Track Classic on March 12.
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