Senbere Teferi runs a world-leading 14:46.61 at the Adidas BOOST Meeting in Herzogenaurach (© Gladys Chai)
Ethiopia’s Senbere Teferi cruised to a world-leading time of 14:46.61 when winning the 5000m at the Adidas Boost Meeting in Herzogenaurach, Germany, on Saturday (14).
The 21-year-old was a silver medallist over 5000m at the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015 and proved her Olympic preparations are well on track with a superb solo performance.
Teferi went through 1000m in a steady 2:59.81, then cranked through the gears to reach 2000m in 5:54.97.
She passed 3000m in 8:53.39, 4000m in 11:53.32, then summoned an impressive kick over the final lap to come home in 14:46.61 to easily surpass Sally Kipyego’s previous world lead of 14:58.60.
Jamaica’s Yohan Blake proved his long journey back to the top is progressing well when taking the men’s 100m in 10.03 (1.1m/s). The 2011 world champion showed impressive power over the final 50 metres to move clear of compatriot Warren Weir, who finished second in 10.20.
Blake, 26, shot to fame in 2011 when winning 100m gold at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu, but had been well off his best in recent years after a string of injury problems. However, the double Olympic silver medallist proved he may once again be a threat in Rio de Janeiro this summer when running what was then a world-leading 9.95 to win in Kingston last month, and this was further proof that his injury problems are firmly behind him.
In the women’s 100m, Tori Bowie again proved she will be a force to be reckoned with come the Olympics by taking victory in 10.91 (1.2m/s). Trinidad and Tobago’s Michelle-Lee Ahye was runner-up in 11.07, with Britain’s Desiree Henry third in 11.23.
Bowie, 25, currently heads the world list over 100m after her sizzling 10.80 win at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha last week, and with Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce opting out of action in Shanghai this weekend due to injury problems, the US sprinter appears the dominant force in female sprinting at this early stage of the season.
Teenager Tarbei top class over 800m
The men’s 800m saw the emergence of a possible future star of the event, as Kenyan teenager Willy Tarbei made his European debut and powered to victory in 1:44.84.
The 17-year-old first made his mark internationally when taking gold in the IAAF World Youth Championships Cali 2015 last summer, and with his run in Herzogenaurach, he now appears more than ready to make the step up to senior level.
With Edwin Meli taking the field through 400m in 51.00, Tarbei was content to sit in the pack alongside Jonathan Kitlit. When Kiplagat stepped off the track at 600m, reached in 1:17.47, Tarbei shot to the front.
Running in a style similar to fellow Kenyan David Rudisha – his tall frame covering the ground with long, loping strides – Tarbei powered clear in the home straight to take victory in 1:44.84, well clear of compatriot Kitlit, who was second in 1:45.87. Tarbei will next compete at the IAAF World Challenge meeting in Beijing on Wednesday and then in Hengelo, the Netherlands, next Sunday.
There was another Kenyan win in the men’s 1500m, as Nixon Chepseba took victory in 3:39.18 ahead of Germany’s Sebastian Keiner, who was second in 3:40.50.
The roles were reversed for both nations in the women’s race, with Germany’s Maren Kock taking victory in 4:11.96 with Kenya’s Lydia Wafula second in 4:12.89.
Cathal Dennehy for the IAAF
