Meeting best falls as Dutch runner Sifan Hassan surprises herself with a national record at the Diamond League meeting
It might have been just a week since her 5000m bronze in London, but there was no evidence of a post-IAAF World Championships slump for Sifan Hassan as the Dutch runner stormed to record-breaking success over 3000m at the Müller Grand Prix Birmingham.
Racing over the distance outdoors for the first time in three years, the world indoor 1500m champion clocked 8:28.90 to break both the meeting record and improve her own national record after a well-judged race.
With a strong finish, the 24-year-old moved past her rivals in the closing stages to beat Konstanze Klosterhalfen by almost a second, with the German European indoor silver medallist also breaking a national record with her time of 8:29.89.
Kenya’s Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi was third in a PB of 8:30.11, world 5000m champion Hellen Obiri fourth in 8:30.11 and Eilish McColgan fifth as she moved up a place to fifth on the UK all-time list with her time of 8:31.00, improving her previous best by 0.39.
“Racing over distances like the 800m and 3000m always surprises me but it was a fast race today and I ran a very good time,” said Hassan, who was joined in 3000m triumph by her fellow Alberto Salazar-coached athlete Mo Farah as he bid an emotional farewell to track racing in the UK. “The fact that it is a national record and meeting record is a nice bonus for me.
“It went out fast but then I felt a bit tired so winning surprised me,” added Hassan, who had also finished fifth over 1500m at the IAAF World Championships in London. “I had to work hard but that is a great result coming off the back of world championships, so I am very pleased.”
