Dibaba 10s short of 5000 world record at Bislett Games

Dibaba 10s short of 5000 world record at Bislett Games

Published Jun. 11, 2015 4:18 p.m. ET

OSLO, Norway (AP) Genzebe Dibaba's bid to take her elder sister's 5,000-meter world record at the Bislett Games ended in disappointment when she finished more than 10 seconds off the mark on Thursday.

Having declared her intention to beat older sister Tirunesh's record of 14 minutes, 11.15 seconds, set in the same stadium in 2008, Dibaba won in 14:21.29, ahead of Ethiopian compatriot Senbere Teferi, and Kenya's Viola Jelagat Kibiwot.

''I tried hard but the pacemakers could not do what I needed. Of course, cold and wind also played a role, but overall I'm OK with the race. I did my best,'' Dibaba said.

Dibaba, who set the indoor 5,000 world record in Stockholm in February, added, ''I'm not sure whether I'll try to break my sister's record again. My full concentration will go towards the Beijing world championships (in August).''

ADVERTISEMENT

Javier Sotomayor of Cuba watched as an anticipated challenge to his 22-year-old record of 2.45 meters in the high jump failed to materialize.

China's Zhang Guowei took the victory with a jump of 2.36. Marco Fassinotti jumped an Italian record 2.33 for second, while American Erik Kynard and Qatari Mutaz Essa Barshim shared third after also clearing 2.33. Barshim cleared 2.43 last year.

No other records were in danger on the sixth stop of the Diamond League, the Bislett Games' 50th anniversary meet.

Murielle Ahoure of the Ivory Coast won the women's 100 in 11.03, beating Jamaica's Veronica Campbell-Brown and Brazil's Rosangela Cristina Oliveira Santos.

Brianna Rollins was leading the women's 100 hurdles but Jasmin Stowers finished strongly and was awarded the victory as both finished in 12.84. Queen Harrison, Lolo Jones, and Jacquelyn Coward completed an American top five.

''I'm the world leader but I still need to prove it, and the next possibility will be at the U.S. trials,'' Stowers said.

Jamaica's Kaliese Spencer won the women's 400 hurdles in a world-leading 54.14, ahead of American Georganne Moline in 54.29. Spencer stayed unbeaten in this Diamond League with her 21st victory.

Britain's Laura Muir won the women's 1,500, having built up a large lead going into the final lap and holding off Faith Chepngetich Kipyegon's challenge to win in 4:00.39. Dawit Seyaum of Ethiopia was third.

''I heard them coming as the crowd got louder,'' Muir said. ''But I managed to keep on running and won, my first ever in the Diamond League. This is the biggest win of my career.''

Christophe Lemaitre celebrated his 25th birthday by winning the men's 200. The French sprinter finished in 20.21, ahead of South Africa's Anaso Jobodwana and Britain's Richard Kilty.

Steven Gardiner of the Bahamas won the men's 400 in a personal-best 44.64, ahead of Britain's Matthew Hudson-Smith and the Czech Republic's Pavel Maslak.

''I did not expect to run such a fast time,'' said Gardiner, who was making his European debut.

Jairus Kipchoge Birech led a Kenyan sweep of the top four in the men's 3,000 steeplechase, finishing in 8:05.63, comfortably ahead of Conseslus Kipruto, Paul Kipsiele Koech, and Hillary Kipsang Yego.

Birech said he was hoping to run in 8 minutes or under ''but the wind was too tough and the pacemakers too slow.''

The Dream Mile went to Asbel Kiprop of Kenya in 3:51.45, ahead of compatriot Silas Kiplagat in 3:51.72 and Pieter-Jan Hannes, who set a Belgian record of 3:51.84.

Off the track, Robert Urbanek of Poland won the men's discus, Britain's Greg Rutherford claimed the men's long jump, Caterine Ibarguen of Colombia won the women's triple jump, Israel's Dorozhon Marharyta set a national record of 64.56 to win the women's javelin, and Germany's Christina Schwanitz won the women's shot put.

share