DIBABA COMPLETES DOUBLE AS SHE WINS 1500 METRE TITLE

BY AYODELE ODUMADE AT THE BIRMINGHAM INDOOR ARENA

ETHIOPIAN SUPERSTAR Genzebe Dibaba, won the Women’s 1500m title to add to the 3000m she won on the opening day of the World Indoor Athletics Championships.  She won in 4mins 5.27 seconds further enhance her position as the current dominant female long distance runner in the world.  She said: “I am so happy to be able to do the double. Last year I was sick but this time I was ready to run for my country.  Laura (Muir) was very strong but I am in good shape and that is why I won it. This is a gold for all the people of Ethiopia.

In a reversal of positions from the 3000m final, Great Britain’s Laura Muir came second while Sifan Hassan of the Netherland’s was third.

In the 60 metres, Ivorian sprinter Ben Youssef Meite could not emulate the feat of this female compatriots as he went out in the semi finals. He appeared to have sustained an injury after his first round heat, which he won. 

Ghanaian Sean Safo-Antwi fared a lot better as he reach the final of the 60 metres but could only finish in 7^th place, in a race, which was won by the red hot American Christian Coleman who set a Championship record of 6.37seconds. Once Justin Gatlin retires he most probably could be the heir apparent to the sprint throne as he carried over the form from last year when he won silver in the outdoor 100 metres at the World Championships in London.

Nigeria’s Oluwatobiloba Amusan came 7^th in the Women’s 60 metres hurdles final despite not a lack of proper preparation.  She said: “It has been two rough weeks. It was back and forth trying to get my student visa first.  Then I had to travel down to Houston to get my UK visa. It was more like an in person thing so you had to be there all the time.  So I was travelling back and forth for two weeks without practising. I got here on Wednesday and did not do any training. I just did a little shakeup. Nobody received me when I got here. It was just me!”