BERLIN, Germany (Sept. 3) — World 10,000m record holder Letesenbet Gidey fell short of the 5000m record and her personal best but still posted a very fast time for a meeting record for the win at the ISTAF Berlin 2023 track and field meeting on Sunday.
Gidey was targeting the world record set by Faith Kipyegon in Paris earlier this year, but the Ethiopian had to settle for a meeting record of 14 minutes, 8.20 seconds as she totally dominated the race after the 4000m mark.
Read more: How to watch the ISTAF Berlin 2023 track and field meeting?
The previous meeting record, set by Russia’s Olga Yegorova in 2001, was 14:05.20.
Kipyegon clocked the world record time of 14:05.20 at the Paris Diamond League meeting in June on her way to beating Gidey, who ran her season-best time at that meeting with 14:07.94.
Sunday’s winning time is the third-fastest 5000m performance from Gidey, behind her personal best of 14:06.62 set in Valencia almost three years ago.
Gidey, who now owns three of the four fastest times in history, credited the pacemaking duty of Kenyan runner Beatrice Chepkoech for her fast time, while adding that the “windy” conditions affected her a bit.
“The race was good, I feel really good,” said Gidey. “The pace from Chepkoech was perfect. But today it was a little bit windy, so it was very hard at the end. Because of this wind, I could not run a better time. I really like to come to ISTAF.”
Meanwhile, finishing at a distant second place was Winnie Jemutai of Kenya, who posted 14:56.99, followed by her compatriot Edinah Jebitok, who finished at 15:01.97.
Marta García of Spain set a personal best with her time of 15:02.11, while American Karissa Schweizer, running her first 5000m race this season, finished fourth in 15:02.62.
The event also saw several athletes setting their personal bests, including Hannah Nuttall (15:16.92) of Great Britain and Amalie Sæten (15:27.00) of Norway.
Berlin wins for Danielle Williams, Ernest John Obiena; Shaunae Miller-Uibo pulls up
Also on the track, two-time world champion Danielle Williams of Jamaica eased to victory in the women’s 100m hurdles, crossing the line in 12.71 seconds, while Norway’s Henriette Jaeger dominated the women’s 400m, setting a national record of 51.03 secs after Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo failed to finish the race, pulling up at the halfway mark.
In other results, world silver medalists, Ernest John Obiena of the Philippines cleared 5.92m to secure victory in the men’s pole vault, Germany’s Jean Paul Bredau won the men’s 400m with 44.96secs, and countryman Joshua Abuaku took the men’s 400m hurdles in a personal best of 48.12, beating Estonia’s Rasmus Magi (48.31).
ISTAF Berlin 2023 track and field meeting women’s 5000m results.
Records:
- World Record: 14:05.20 by Faith KIPYEGON (KEN) on 9 JUN 2023
- Meeting Record: 14:29.32 by Olga YEGOROVA (RUS) on 31 AUG 2001
- World Lead: 14:05.20 by Faith KIPYEGON (KEN) on 9 JUN 2023
Results:
- Letesenbet GIDEY (ETH): 14:08.79 (Meeting Record)
- Winnie JEMUTAI (KEN): 14:56.99
- Edinah JEBITOK (KEN): 15:01.97
- Marta GARCÍA (ESP): 15:02.11 (Personal Best)
- Karissa SCHWEIZER (USA): 15:02.62
- Celestine Jepkosgei BIWOT (KEN): 15:03.33
- Jessica WARNER-JUDD (GBR): 15:04.01 (Season Best)
- Viktória WAGNER-GYÜRKÉS (HUN): 15:15.21
- Hannah NUTTALL (GBR): 15:16.92 (Personal Best)
- Allie BUCHALSKI (USA): 15:20.66
- Amalie SÆTEN (NOR): 15:27.00 (Personal Best)
- Lili Anna VINDICS-TÓTH (HUN): 15:42.68 (Personal Best)
- Abersh MINSEWO (ETH): 15:45.38
Did Not Finish (DNF):
- Beatrice CHEPKOECH (KEN)
- Vera COUTELLIER (GER)
- Aneta LEMIESZ (POL)
