© Copyright – 2021 – Athletics Illustrated
“Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
– Confucius
Gabriela DeBues-Stafford made a clear and demonstrative statement on Sunday by leading her 1500m heat from start to finish. Although the time likely did not require a great effort, the seven-time national record holder controlled the race from beginning to end.
DeBues-Stafford clocked a 4:03.70 finish time. The Canadian and Scotland’s Laura Muir took up lanes 1 and 2, during the latter stages of the race. Perhaps, to force any potential sprinters to have to go wide. The two have been training partners in the past in Scotland, while DeBues-Stafford now runs for the Bowerman Track Club in Oregon.
Muir finished second in the time of 4:03.89.
Moving on are:
| 1 | CAN | DEBUES-STAFFORD Gabriela | 4:03.70 | Q |
| 2 | GBR | MUIR Laura | 4:03.89 | Q |
| 3 | KEN | CHEBET Winny | 4:03.93 | Q |
| 4 | FIN | KUIVISTO Sara | 4:04.10 | Q |
| 5 | ETH | GEBREEZIBEHER Freweyni | 4:04.12 | Q |
| 6 | CZE | MAKI Kristiina | 4:04.55 | Q |
Sifan Hassan trips, gets up and wins heat
Sifan Hassan, with a little more than a lap to go, became entangled with Natalia Hawthorn of Canada. Hawthorn would fade apparently due to the fall, but Hassan would power on to get to the front. Hours later, she went on to win the gold medal in the 5000m event. She won in the time of 14:36.79.
In the 1500m event, she clocked a 4:05.17 to lead Heat 2. Finishing second was Australia’s Jessica Hull in the time of 4:05.28.
The top six from Heat 2 are:
| 1 | NED | HASSAN Sifan | 4:05.17 | Q |
| 2 | AUS | HULL Jessica | 4:05.28 | Q |
| 3 | USA | PURRIER ST. PIERRE Elinor | 4:05.34 | Q |
| 4 | ITA | SABBATINI Gaia | 4:05.41 | Q |
| 5 | ETH | HAILU Lemlem | 4:05.49 | Q |
| 6 | CZE | MEZULIANIKOVA Diana | 4:05.49 | Q |
Faith Kipyegon will be the other one to beat besides Hassan, DeBues-Stafford, and Muir. She clocked a 4:01.40.
During the third heat, the top-six move on, and because it was a fast race, the next three fastest move on too, including Lucia Stafford, the younger sister of Gabriela DeBues-Stafford.
Heat 3
| 1 | KEN | KIPYEGON Faith | 4:01.40 | Q |
| 2 | UGA | NANYONDO Winnie | 4:02.24 | Q |
| 3 | AUS | HALL Linden | 4:02.27 | Q |
| 4 | JPN | TANAKA Nozomi | 4:02.33 | Q |
| 5 | USA | MACLEAN Heather | 4:02.40 | Q |
| 6 | GBR | SNOWDEN Katie | 4:02.77 | Q |
| 7 | CAN | STAFFORD Lucia | 4:03.52 | q |
| 8 | POL | GALANT Martyna | 4:05.03 | q |
| 9 | GER | GRANZ Caterina | 4:06.22 | q |
Kipyegon holds the current Kenyan national record at 3:51.07. The 27-year-old is the defending Olympic champion from Rio in 2016. She is a 13-time Diamond League winner in the 800m, 1000m, 1500m, and mile (1609m).
Hassan is going for the triple, competing in the 1500m, 5000m, and 10,000m. Sifan Hassan: “For me, it is crucial to follow my heart. Doing that is far more important than gold medals. That keeps me motivated and it keeps me enjoying this beautiful sport.”
