Sifan Hassan is having quite a season and after her 5000m title at the European Championships in Berlin, she dropped down in distance and achieved the same outcome in the Birmingham Diamond League this afternoon over 1500m.
She knows how to bide her time so well over longer distances, as she proved in Berlin, and here at the Alexander Stadium she timed her progress perfectly throughout the 1500m, looking the winner from a long way out.
Third with 700 metres to go as Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay led, Hassan then quickened up at the bell to sit just behind the leader. With 200m left, Hassan took over and had too much speed for the rest in the home straight to triumph in 4:00.60 from Tsegay in 4:01.03 and Poland’s European silver medallist Sofia Ennaoui in a season’s best of 4:02.06.
“I am a little tired and I was sick a couple of days ago so I’m happy with how it’s gone,” said Hassan. “I’m happy with the time because it was a little windy but I’m really happy with it.”
Africa 1500m champion, Winny Chebet finished a distant sixth in 4:03.64 with Nelly Jepkosgei finishing in twelfth place in 4:07.69
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