Genzebe Dibaba smashes 1500m World Record at Monaco Diamond League!

Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba was the undisputed star of the Monaco Diamond League, smashing the World Record (WR) as she ran a lifetime best of 3:50.07 to win the women’s 1500m. The gap with the rest was so much that Diamond Race leader, Sifan Hassan finished 2nd with a time of 3:56.05, and it was even a Dutch National Record, while Shannon Rowbury is 3rd in 3:56.29.

It was a race that Dibaba executed perfectly, running like a beast in the final 400m as she looked up the time-board, clearly with an intent of breaking the record. She duly got the reward for her efforts, rousing the spectators to their feet when she crossed the lines, in a breathtaking victory that will be talked about for a long time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjOrUCGNhpI

Having come close to breaking the 5000m record at the Paris Diamond League, the signs were there that it was just a matter of time before she gets her name in the history books. With the World Championships coming up next month, Dibaba has raised the bar and we could be in for a thriller in Beijing, especially as Ayana Almaz is equally making a case for a WR.

It was the same tale in the men’s 100m where Justin Gatlin continued doing great  things, dominating all his races this year. Gatlin put up yet another impressive  performance as he coasted to victory in a Meeting Record of 9.78s. The American  is yet to lose a race and with the win in Monaco, he underlined why he remains the favourite at the 2015 World Champions in Beijing.

His American countryman, Tyson Gay finished 2nd in 9.97s, with Jimmy Vicaut 3rd in 10.03s. Young Trayvon Bromell would be disappointed after he was disqualified from the race for false starting.

In the women’s 200m, there was a surprise winner as America’s Candyce McGrone took the race in a time of 22.03s. Dafne Schippers came in 2nd in 22.05s, with Jeneba Tarmoh 3rd in 22.23s and Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare-Ighoteguonor initially finishing 4th with a time of 22.25s, but she was disqualified after she entered another lane just after the curve.

Not the finish that Okagbare would have wished for, but she is competing in only her second 200m race of the season, withdrawing last week from the Lausanne Diamond League. A philosophical Okagbare wrote on her Facebook wall after the race: “What a funny day….We don’t need to stress about everything all the time. Today I watched my race and just started laughing because I honestly don’t know what happened but, all glory to God because it’s been Him all the way. ‪#‎Muchloveformyfans‬. “

Meanwhile, it was business as usual for Bershawn Jackson who had difficulty winning the men’s 400m hurdles in a time of 48.23s. Patryk Dobek finished 2nd with a Personal Best of 48.62s, while Johnny Dutch came in 3rd with a time of 48.67s.

Although it was not a Diamond League event, the men’s 1500m also produced a thrilling contest that entertained the fans. Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop won the race in 3:26.69, which is the third fastest on the world’s 1500m all-time list. Tauofik Makhloufi came in 2nd with a time of 3:28.75, while Abdelaati Iguider won the battle for 3rd in 3:28.79 as Mo Farah finished 4th in 3:28.93.

Francena McCororry might not have made the USA’s team to the World Championship, but she showed why she will be missed as she powered to victory in the women’s 400m in a World Lead (WL) of 49.83s. Stephanie McPherson finished 2nd in 50.41s, and her Jamaican counterpart 3rd in 50.66s.

Sharika Nelvis extended her lead on the Diamond Race log, winning the women’s 100m hurdles in 12.46s with Kendra Harrison 2nd in 12.52s and Brianna Rollins 3rd with 12.56s.

The other big surprise came in the men’s 800m where Bosnia-Herzegovina’s Amel Tuka came from behind to snatch victory from Bostwana’s Nijel Amos in a time of 1:42.51, a new WL. Amos finished 2nd in 1:42.66 while Ayanleh Souleiman was 3rd with a time of 1:42.97.

In the women’s Steeplechase, both Hyvin Kiyeng and Virginia Nyambura were surprisingly beaten by Habiba Ghribi who clocked 9:11.28. Kiyeng and Nyambura ran PBs of 9:12.51 and 9:13:85 to finish 2nd and 3rd respectively.

The Monaco Diamond League will be remembered for Dibaba’s unprecedented feat, however, Gatlin’s dominance did not go unnoticed.

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