STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sporting Alert – Ethiopia young distance darling Genzebe Dibaba broke the women’s indoor mile world record at the Globen Galan – IAAF World Indoor Tour meeting in Stockholm, Sweden on Wednesday.
Stockholm – Globen Galan Results
GREAT PACING SETS UP WORLD RECORD MARK
Dibaba recorded a winning time of 4:13.31, which improved the previous world record of 4:17.14, set in 1990 by Romania’s Doina Melinte.
“The pacing was perfect for me,” Dibaba, who was well paced through to opening 800m by Poland’s Joanna Jozwik, said on the IAAF website.
“I know this track well, and it is very good for me.
“The only thing that was difficult was the conditions in the arena – it felt very cold.”
She added: “I am very happy with this record. And I think I will be able to run even faster this season.”
Her fellow countrywoman and World junior champion Gudaf Tsegay finished second in a personal best of 4:24.98, with Axumawit Embaye, also of Ethiopia, completing the sweep with a time of 4:27.75.
Sara Lahti of Sweden set a national record of 4:30.42 for fifth.
WORLD RECORD FOR SOULEIMAN, WORLD BEST FOR HAROUN
Meanwhile, Ayanleh Souleiman, the world indoor champion at 1500m, set a new world record over 1000m after crossing the line in 2:14.20.
The 23-year-old Djiboutian improved the old mark of Denmark’s Wilson Kipketer, who ran 2:14.96 in 2000.
“After I passed 800m in 1:46, I knew I would have the record,” he said. “This is my first world record, and I am very happy.”
Thijmen Kupers of the Netherlands finished second in a personal-best time of 2:17.02, with third place going to Kenya’s Elijah Manangoi, who ran 2:17.09.
Jakub Holusa (CZE, 2:18.27) and Fouad El Kaam (MAR, 2:19.71) both set personal-best marks when finishing fourth and fifth.
In the meantime, 18-year-old Abdalelah Haroun of Qatar clocked a world-best of 59.83 to win the men’s 500m.
COLLINS RECOVERS TO WINS 60m
In the short sprint event, Kim Collins recovered from a stumble out of the blocks to pipped Mike Rodgers for the men’s 60m.
The St. Kitts and Nevis record holder Collins clocked 6.56 seconds to win the short sprint crown, beating American Rodgers, who had won the first two IAAF World Indoor Tour 60m races in Karlsruhe and Boston.
Rodgers finished second in 6.58 secs, while another American, Joseph Morris took third place in a time of 6.59.
“Getting away slow is better than being disqualified,” said Collins on the IAAF website. “But I wanted to run better than that.
“When you see the crowd excited like they are tonight, you want to have a great run. It didn’t happen – but there you are.”
Odain Rose of Sweden set a new personal best of 6.62 secs for fourth in the final.
Earlier in the heats, Collins posted 6.58 to take semi-final one, with Rodgers winning the other semis in 6.62.
Adam Kszczot of Poland produced a world-leading time of 1:45.63 to land the men’s 800m crown, with Abdelaati Iguider of Morocco flashing to a world-leading time of 7:39.04 to secure the men’s 3,000m.
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia followed him home in a personal-best of 7:39.11 for second place.
Elsewhere, Tim Nedow of Canada threw a meeting record and personal record of 21.33m to win the men’s Shot Put, with Andreas Otterling of Sweden taking the men’s Long Jump in a personal best of 8.12m.
