Dutch distance legend Sifan Hassan will take on British favourite Eilish McColgan in the women’s 5000m at the Wanda Diamond League meeting in London in July.
2021 Wanda Diamond League champion Sifan Hassan (NED) and British star Eilish McColgan (GBR) will go head to head in an intriguing women’s 5000m at the London Athletics Meet on Sunday 23 July.
Double Olympic gold medallist – and recent TCS London Marathon champion – Sifan Hassan returns to the track after her fine form on the roads to set up an exciting 5000m contest at the London Stadium. Hassan has been one of the most successful endurance athletes in the sport’s history, winning global medals in distances ranging from 1500m up to 10,000m, with her triple medal-winning display at the Tokyo 2020 Games [gold in the 5000m and 10,000m, and bronze in the 1500m] further cementing her place in the athletics hall of fame.
Her recent success on the roads, with a superb and popular win at the London Marathon in April, further showed her versatility across the distances. She returned to the track last weekend as she won the 10,000m at the FBK Games in Hengelo in a time of 29:37.80.
Hassan – who won at the 2018 edition of London event in the inaugural Millicent Fawcett Mile – added, “I am excited to be racing on the track in London once again. I had a great performance on the roads of London earlier this year, and I enjoyed the support of the crowds on the streets, so I hope we experience another great atmosphere in the London Stadium in July.
“I am making the transition from the road back to the track and was very pleased with my first races. So, I am really looking forward to seeing what I can show in a 5000m.”
McColgan, meanwhile, wowed the crowds on her way to Commonwealth Games gold in Birmingham last year. It was a fruitful summer for the Dundee Hawhill athlete as she also won silver in the 5000m at the Commonwealths, and added silver (10,000m) and bronze (5000m) at the European Championships a few weeks later.
The Scottish athlete has been in the form of her life over the past few seasons, breaking national records in the 5000m, 10,000m and 10km, and moving to second in the all-time list in the half marathon. While her marathon debut was put on hold after withdrawing from London earlier this year, she will return to the capital for the 5000m show on the 23 July.
On competing at the London Athletics Meet, McColgan said, “It is always special to race in front of a home crowd, and I was lucky enough to experience that twice at the Commonwealth Games last year. I know the huge boost their encouragement gives to the British athletes, so I am very excited to be racing in the 5000m race next month.
“I have no doubt it will be a hugely competitive race, and it will be a real highlight for those coming to watch us on the day. I am really looking forward to testing myself against a very strong field.”
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