5 Big Breakthroughs From the Weekend
5 Big Breakthroughs From the Weekend
Catch up on the biggest breakthrough performances from the weekend of track and field action. Tirunesh Dibaba Makes Her Return With Great Manchester Run Vic
Catch up on the biggest breakthrough performances from the weekend of track and field action.
Tirunesh Dibaba Makes Her Return With Great Manchester Run Victory
The three-time Olympic gold medalist returned to competition in a big way when she claimed the Great Manchester Run 10K victory in 31:16, which was 10 seconds faster than runner-up Edna Kiplagat. Larry Eder of RunBlogRun did a great job breaking down Dibaba’s Great Manchester win.
“I was happy with the race, but I was worried during the race too. It was a time to test my fitness,” Dibaba told the media.
Dibaba’s performance is her first race since 2014 when she finished third at the London Marathon in 2:20:35. She gave birth to her son in March 2015 and has since been training to defend her 2012 Olympic 10K title. Meanwhile, her sister Genzebe Dibaba executed a record-setting 2015 on the track with a world record in the 1500m and a World Championship title in the same distance.
Almaz Ayana Runs World Lead 4 Seconds Off World Record
The 2015 world champion ran her way into history Sunday at the Diamond League meeting in Rabat, Morocco. Despite windy conditions and pacers just through 1600m, Almaz Ayana clocked a 14:16 winning time in the 5K. The mark is the fifth-fastest 5K all-time and gives her two of the top five fastest 5K marks ever run in history. She is also the only woman not named Defar or Dibaba to hold two of those spots in the top five all-time marks. The performance on Sunday was Ayana’s first 5K since crushing Genzebe Dibaba at Worlds last year, and just two seconds off of her 14:14.32 personal best.
Gwen Berry Shatters American Record in Hammer Throw
After a series of breakthrough throws this season, Gwen Berry followed the momentum all the way to an American record in the hammer throw at the Tucson Elite Classic. Berry won the hammer throw with a mark of 76.31m/250-4, which broke the previous American record set by Amanda Bingson by 0.78m. Prior to Tucson, Berry had notched the world lead on April 29 with a then-personal best of 75.11m, and most recently threw 73.82m in Kingston, Jamaica, on May 7.
Cory Leslie Hits Olympic Standard in Steeplechase at HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic
The Furman Elite steeplechaser experienced a major breakthrough when he rode with the pack of Evan Jager and Dan Huling to a massive personal best at the HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic. Cory Leslie clocked a third-place finish in 8:19.12, which is a five-second personal best and more importantly, well below the Olympic standard. The race was Leslie’s first steeplechase of the year after running another personal best in the 5K (13:38) at the Payton Jordan Invitational.
High Schooler Austin Tamagno Runs U.S. No. 2 1500m Against Pros at HOKA
The senior from Brea Olinda High School proved he can hang with seasoned veterans when he clocked a 3:44.14 in heat three of the 1500m at the HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic. Tamagno’s performance is currently the second-fastest 1500m run by a prep this year and follows a 4:03.21 mile PR from Mt. SAC Relays. Tamagno already announced he will sit out the California state meet in favor of more high-level, professional competition, which he will continue to pursue this week at the Prefontaine Classic.
Tirunesh Dibaba Makes Her Return With Great Manchester Run Victory
The three-time Olympic gold medalist returned to competition in a big way when she claimed the Great Manchester Run 10K victory in 31:16, which was 10 seconds faster than runner-up Edna Kiplagat. Larry Eder of RunBlogRun did a great job breaking down Dibaba’s Great Manchester win.
“I was happy with the race, but I was worried during the race too. It was a time to test my fitness,” Dibaba told the media.
The amazing @tirudibaba WINS the women elite race! Congratulations! #GreatManchesterRun pic.twitter.com/AIcCjiUTSZ
— Great Run (@Great_Run) May 22, 2016
Dibaba’s performance is her first race since 2014 when she finished third at the London Marathon in 2:20:35. She gave birth to her son in March 2015 and has since been training to defend her 2012 Olympic 10K title. Meanwhile, her sister Genzebe Dibaba executed a record-setting 2015 on the track with a world record in the 1500m and a World Championship title in the same distance.
Almaz Ayana Runs World Lead 4 Seconds Off World Record
The 2015 world champion ran her way into history Sunday at the Diamond League meeting in Rabat, Morocco. Despite windy conditions and pacers just through 1600m, Almaz Ayana clocked a 14:16 winning time in the 5K. The mark is the fifth-fastest 5K all-time and gives her two of the top five fastest 5K marks ever run in history. She is also the only woman not named Defar or Dibaba to hold two of those spots in the top five all-time marks. The performance on Sunday was Ayana’s first 5K since crushing Genzebe Dibaba at Worlds last year, and just two seconds off of her 14:14.32 personal best.
#5 all-time 5K performance by Ayana at #RabatDL
— FloTrack (@FloTrack) May 22, 2016
14.11.15 T. Dibaba
14:12.88 Defar
14:14.32 Ayana
14:15.41 G. Dibaba
-14.16.31 Ayana
Gwen Berry Shatters American Record in Hammer Throw
After a series of breakthrough throws this season, Gwen Berry followed the momentum all the way to an American record in the hammer throw at the Tucson Elite Classic. Berry won the hammer throw with a mark of 76.31m/250-4, which broke the previous American record set by Amanda Bingson by 0.78m. Prior to Tucson, Berry had notched the world lead on April 29 with a then-personal best of 75.11m, and most recently threw 73.82m in Kingston, Jamaica, on May 7.
RECORD ALERT
— USATF (@usatf) May 21, 2016
@BeRRy_EDible throws an AR 76.31m/250-4 in women's hammer!
@JoeKovacsUSA pic.twitter.com/1n0Dgs3y3Q
Cory Leslie Hits Olympic Standard in Steeplechase at HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic
The Furman Elite steeplechaser experienced a major breakthrough when he rode with the pack of Evan Jager and Dan Huling to a massive personal best at the HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic. Cory Leslie clocked a third-place finish in 8:19.12, which is a five-second personal best and more importantly, well below the Olympic standard. The race was Leslie’s first steeplechase of the year after running another personal best in the 5K (13:38) at the Payton Jordan Invitational.
High Schooler Austin Tamagno Runs U.S. No. 2 1500m Against Pros at HOKA
The senior from Brea Olinda High School proved he can hang with seasoned veterans when he clocked a 3:44.14 in heat three of the 1500m at the HOKA ONE ONE Middle Distance Classic. Tamagno’s performance is currently the second-fastest 1500m run by a prep this year and follows a 4:03.21 mile PR from Mt. SAC Relays. Tamagno already announced he will sit out the California state meet in favor of more high-level, professional competition, which he will continue to pursue this week at the Prefontaine Classic.
Austin Tamagno just dropped US #2 1500m vs. pros at #HOKAmdc! ---> https://t.co/gjF6XiJQ4d pic.twitter.com/cttLAUZ9gA
— MileSplit US (@milesplit) May 21, 2016