Genzebe Dibaba Sets Women's 1500 World Record, 3:50.07, Rowbury Sets American Record
Story by Lincoln Shyrack for FloTrack
More FloTrack coverage from the Monaco Herculis meeting, including post-race interviews
All the stars were out in full force on Friday night in Monaco, but the evening belonged to EthiopianGenzebe Dibaba, who set the World record of 3:50.07 in the women's 1500m with a jaw-dropping 2:01 final 800 meters.
Dibaba bettered the 22-year-old 1500m World record of 3:50.46 held by China's Qu Yunxia since September 11th, 1993. Before Dibaba ran 3:54.11 last week in Spain, Yunxia's mark was thought be unbeatable, as no woman had run faster since 1997.
But Dibaba proved that to be just a myth on Friday, as she displayed fitness that will make her very difficult to beat in just over a month at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing. In a race with nearly all of the best 1500m runners in the World, Dibaba finished nearly six full seconds ahead of runner-up Sifan Hassan, who lowered her PR to 3:56.05.
The 24-year-old Dibaba fell to the track in elation after crossing the line, staring at the clock in utter disbelief. The Ethiopian’s tally of World records now totals five, as she also holds the 1500, 3k, two-mile, and 5k records indoors.
Dibaba blasted through the opening 400 in just over 60-seconds, under record tempo as she closely followed pacer Chanelle Price. Dibaba fell off the pace in the second lap however, crossing 800m in 2:04.50 with a 64-second quarter that allowed the Netherlands Sifan Hassan to come up on her shoulder.
But Hassan would be no match to the hammer that Dibaba threw down in the third lap, a remarkable 60-second split that put the World record back on the table. With 300 meters to go, the race with the clock was on.
Using her once-in-a-lifetime combination of speed and strength, Dibaba dug deep to split 59.79 over the last lap, breaking the record with an unbelievable 2:01.97 final 800 meters.
With the World record in hand, Dibaba finally answered the question that has been asked of her all season regarding her decision to compete in the 1500m and 5,000m in August's World Championships.
"One thing is clear I will double at World Championships [1500m and 5000m]. And let’s try for 5000m World record after Beijing," Dibaba told the Diamond League afterwards.
Asbel Kiprop Thrases Deep 1500 Field With 3:26.69, 3rd Fastest All-Time
Asbel Kiprop of Kenya thoroughly smashed a loaded men’s 1500 with his 3:26.69 win on Friday, beating runner-up Taoufik Makhloufi by more than two seconds. Makhloufi ran a huge PR of 3:28.75, with Moroccan Abdelaati Iguider also running a lifetime best of 3:28.79 for third.
Kiprop separated himself early from the chase pack as he closely followed the pacers through 400 meters in 53.72. A Mo Farah-led chase pack did their best to hunt down Kiprop over the next 400 meters, gaining slightly as the lead group split 56.6 in the second lap, 1:50.3 through 800 meters. Farah remained in contention just 5 meters back.
But Kiprop had plenty more in the engine on this day, using a brilliant third lap of 55.4 to blow the race wide open. Using the long, loping stride that has helped him win Olympic gold and two World titles, Kiprop drove to the line with fervor, with one of the fastest metric miles in history waiting for him.
Crossing the line in 3:26, the 26-year-old Kenyan became the third-fastest 1500 runner in history, behind only Hicham El Guerrouj (3:26) and Bernard Lagat (3:26.34).
Reigning 5k/10k World champion Mo Farah was 4th in 3:28.93, the second-fastest time of his career. New Zealand’s Nick Willis ran a PR at Monaco for the second consecutive year, this time a 3:29.66 for 5th.
American Matthew Centrowitz was 10th in a 3:30.40 PR. Fellow American Leo Manzano just dipped under the IAAF World Championships standard with his 3:36.16 13th place finish.