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Faith Kipyegon set the current world record in the 5000-metre event during the Paris Diamond League meet on June 9 this year at 14:05.20. It would be the first of three world records by the Kenyan in 50 days.

Too bad she wasn’t in the London Diamond League meet on Sunday — who knows what would have happened. As it turned out Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay came close to the world record, setting a new meet and personal best at 14:12.29. Tsegay is now the fourth-fastest athlete all-time behind Kipyegon, and Ethiopians Letesenbet Gidey and Tirunesh Dibaba. Gidey has the second and third-fastest times in history, but likely not for long.

American Alicia Monson is the first person born outside of Kenya or Ethiopia to run under 14:20, with her 14:19.95 fifth-place finish. Monson’s personal best going into the race was 14:31.11. This represents a new North American record, bettering Shelby Houlihan’s 14:23.92 best. Russian Liliya Shobukhova previously held the fastest non-East African time at 14:23.92. Monson kept in contact with the leaders for 11.5 of the 12.5 laps, only to lose a little ground as the field spread during the final 400m. Oddly, Hassan appeared to check herself at the bell and not put herself in position for a final sprint.

Meanwhile, the fourth-place finisher Medina Eisa of Ethiopia broke the world junior record 14:16. She broke Dibaba’s Record by 14 seconds clocking a 14:16.54. Her personal best was 14:40.02 — a whopping improvement.

Sixteen of the top-18 performances are held by Ethiopians. The list is Kenyan-bookended by Kipyegon on top and 14:18.37 and Helen Obiri at 18th with her 2017 performance of 14:18.37. Whatever the Ethiopians are doing en-masse appears to be working for them.

Kenyan Beatrice Chebet gave Tsegay a run for the money finishing a close second in the time of 14:12.92. For Chebet the result was a massive new pb taking more than 21 seconds off of her lifetime best of 14:34.55. Former Ethiopian, Hassan, now running for the Netherlands clocked a European record as she settled for third place clocking 14:22.12.

Tsegay closed the fastest 100m and 300m, going 43.7 during the final 300. Until then, it was anyone’s race.

Eleven of the top-13 recorded personal bests in the race. Fifteen of 17, clocked sub-15-minutes.

Shoestrings

Sha’Carri Richardson, the American sprinter who has raced well this season was scratched due to a hamstring issue. Her coach Dennis Mitchell wanted her to race several times over a short period. This was a high-risk and high-reward scenario. Hopefully, she will regain form for the Budapest World Athletics Championships.

Noah Lyles ran the joint-ninth fastest time in history to win the 200m in 19.47 (1.6).

Zharnel Hughes broke the 30-year British 200m record by clocking 19.73 seconds.

Yared Nuguse fought hard and won the men’s 1500m in 3:30.44. He passed Narve Gilje Nordås in the closing stages with the Norwegian running 3:30.58 while Neil Gourley returned a PB of 3:30.60 to take third.

Femke Bol from the Netherlands ran the 400m hurdles in 51.45, which is the third-fastest time in history.

RESULTS