Klaudia Kazimierska wins the 1500m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26 (© Getty Images)
A week after her surprise victory at the Diamond League Final, Klaudia Kazimierska showed her Brussels triumph was no fluke as the Pole won the women’s 1500m at the World Athletics Ultimate Championship Budapest 26.
European indoor champion Agathe Guillemot controlled the pace from the outset, leading the field through 800m in 2:11.31. Kazimierska, who clocked a world-leading Polish record of 3:54.05 in Brussels last week, positioned herself right behind Guillemot with US duo Emily Mackay and Nikki Hiltz also close by. World indoor champion Georgia Hunter Bell, meanwhile, kept a close eye on developments at the front from the middle of the pack.
With 3:00.08 on the clock as the bell sounded for the last lap, Guillemot held the lead but the field behind her had bunched up as they prepared to make their final attack. Kazimierka finally into the lead with just over 200 metres to go, but Hunter Bell tracked her move.
The Briton drew level with Kazimierska with 100 metres to go, but the Pole managed to find an extra gear in the closing stages and went on to cross the line in 3:57.55.
Hunter Bell placed second in 3:57.72 and Hiltz was third (3:58.16), just ahead of Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu (3:58.44).
The outcome marked the culmination of a gradual progression for Kazimierska over the past 12 months, having finished seventh at the World Championships last year, sixth at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year, second at the European Championships and first at the Diamond League Final.
“It was a completely new position for me to be the favourite in a race like that,” said Kazimierska. “After winning the Diamond League Final in Brussels last week, I felt a bit of pressure. I really enjoyed winning that race and I was hoping to do that again tonight.
“The last 100m fighting against Georgia was thrilling but I prepared myself well over the season and I've gained lots of experience. I’ve raced Georgia a few times this year and I had a plan for this race – finally it played out exactly as I planned. This year I also was building up mentally; I had a few races where I learned a lot – it was like mentally unlocking something in my head.”
Jon Mulkeen for World Athletics
