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Canadian middle-distance specialist Gabriela DeBues-Stafford appears to have returned to form with a win in the 1500-metre event. She clocked a 4:03.81 in Brussels, Belgium, at the IFAM Outdoor meeting at Boudewijnstadion.
She posted on Instagram, “Guys, we are so back!!!! 4:03.8 and the win today in a push from the front! Was a pretty breezy day but a good pacer and big stadium to block the worst of the wind, plus training in Scotland preps you well to handle it!
Still had adjusted expectations to hope for a -4:07 today, so to walk away with 4:03 is so exciting!!”
“Feeling very grateful for Rowan. Was so close to retiring last year, but he refused to believe I was truly done. Not sure I’d still be in the sport without him. I’m happy, healthy, and enjoying racing more than I have in years. Excited for what is next, but soaking in today!”
Women’s 1500 Metres
DeBues-Stafford experienced at least two years of injury after performing at her peak, setting seven Canadian records, some of them more than once between 2019 and 2022. At the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships she ran the national 1500m record of 3:56.12. She currently holds records in the 1500m, 1500m indoors, mile indoors, 3000m indoors and 5000m indoors.
The 29-year-old has twice moved to Great Britain, where she currently resides, as well as Portland, Oregon, when she ran for Nike and Victoria, BC. She had a noted falling out with American Shelby Houlihan around the time that she tested positive for nandrolone.
Results
Final 1
| Place | Name | Birth Date | Mark | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Gabriela DEBUES-STAFFORD | 13 SEP 1995 | CAN | 4:03.81 |
| 2. | Marina MARTÍNEZ | 13 JAN 2002 | ESP | 4:08.08 |
| 3. | Adèle GAY | 16 OCT 2004 | FRA | 4:08.81 |
| 4. | Jolanda KALLABIS | 18 FEB 2005 | GER | 4:09.32 |
| 5. | Abigail IVES | 06 FEB 2004 | GBR | 4:10.27 |
| 6. | Elena BELLÒ | 18 JAN 1997 | ITA | 4:10.44 |
| 7. | Mariska PAREWYCK | 13 DEC 1988 | BEL | 4:11.51 |
| 8. | Rosalía TÁRRAGA | 03 NOV 1996 | ESP | 4:12.54 |
| 9. | Marie BILO | 22 DEC 2003 | BEL | 4:14.65 |
| 10. | July FERREIRA DA SILVA | 27 OCT 1994 | BRA | 4:16.16 |
| 11. | Eimear MAHER | 10 AUG 2003 | IRL | 4:17.50 |
| 12. | Kristine Lande DOMMERSNES | 20 MAY 1999 | NOR | 4:30.30 |
| 13. | Shellcy Ester SARMIENTO | 20 SEP 2000 | COL | 4:31.50 |
| Marissa DAMINK | 24 OCT 1995 | NED | DNF |
