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During Day 6 of the world athletics championships in Doha, Qatar, the usual suspects qualified for the finals of the women’s 5,000-metre distance. In the first heat, Hellen Obiri of Kenya finished first in the time of 14:52.13. Karissa Schweizer was second, running a new personal best time of 14:52.41. The third-place finisher was Hawi Feysa of Ethiopia crossing the line at 14:53.85. The qualifiers went nine deep, which included Canadian record holder Andrea Seccafien setting a new personal best with her 15:04.67 performance. She placed seventh. Great Britain’s Eilish McColgan (15:02.79) and Camille Buscomb from New Zealand (15:02.19) went fourth and fifth, respectively.
McColgan led for the first two kilometers running 3:04.73, then a 3:00.09 lap. Obiri took over the final three kilometres dropping a 3:01 then sub-3 for the final two kms. The effort spread the field.
In the second heat, every runner was over 15-minutes. The winning time was split between three athletes who virtually tied going 15:01.57, 15:01.57 and 15:01.58; they were Tsehay Gemechu (ETH), Konstanze Klosterhalfen (GER) and Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi (KEN), respectively. Six qualified.
Missing out was Canada’s Rachel Cliff, who owns national records in the half-marathon (1:10:08) and marathon (2:26:56). She formerly specialised in the 5,000m, but moved up in distance and has found success over the 21.1K and 42.195K events. Her personal best over the 12.5-lap race is 15:20.66 from May of 2018.
The race was more tactical at the start going through the first km seven seconds slower than the first heat did at 3:11.89. Jessica Judd paced the first 2.5 laps before Fantu Worku took over; she made way for Lilian Kasait Rengeruk. Klosterhalfen led for most of the 4th km. Where Rengeruk ran approximately 2:55, the women covered the final km in about 2:41.
Obiri and Klosterhalfen own personal bests of 14:18.37 And 14:26.76. Expect both to likely medal in the final.
Despite having to stress about her coach Alberto Salazar being handed a four-year suspension by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) for apparently doping his athletes, The Netherlands’ Sifan Hassan won heat 1 of the 1500m distance. She finished in the time of 4:03.88. She ran four seconds faster at the end of her 10,000-metre gold medal performance going 3:59.09. She, along with other Nike Oregon Project athletes were also told to immediately sever ties with the coach.
Expect much more from the former Ethiopian.
Kenyan Faith Kipyegon was right behind her settling for a semi-final qualifying 4:03.93. Ten of 11 in the first heat qualified for the next round. The only runner not to qualify was Finland’s Sara Kuivisto who set a personal best of 4:08.85.
Heat 2 featured a much more tactical performance with five of the six qualifiers all running 4:08-something; 4:08.32 to 4:08.71.
Heat 3 was just as tactical, with Jenny Simpson, who called for Salazar to be banned for life leading the way in 4:07.27. Right behind her was Canadian record holder Gabriela Debues-Stafford in 4:07.28. Her training partner Laura Muir of Scotland (representing Great Britain) finished third in 4:07.37. She is coming off of a recent injury.
The six-fastest in each heat move on to the semi-finals, while the next six fastest overall also move on.
In the Hammer Throw, Pol Pawel Fajdek earned the gold medal with an 80.50m toss. He was the only athlete to get the hammer over 80m; he did it twice, in his second and fourth attempts.
France’s Quentin Bigot earned silver with a personal best 78.19, while bronze went to Hungary’s Bence Halasz at 78.18.
Portions of the Heptathlon and Decathlon were run in earnest on Oct. 2, which was Day 6 of the world championships. More from the multi-sport events is scheduled for Day 7. The men’s 1500m heats, shotput final, and women’s 1500m semi-final all go today.
Full schedule and all the results are available here>>
