Sifan Hassan grabbed a medal in the 10,000 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Eugene on Saturday. The 29-year-old Dutchman finished fourth. Letesenbet Gidey from Ethiopia took gold in 30.09.94.
Hellen Obiri from Kenya took the silver, ahead of her compatriot Margaret Chelimo Kipkemboi. Hassan, with her time of 30.10.56, was half a second behind the bronze.
As is often the case in title tournaments, Hassan was in the rear in the early part of the race. Japan’s Ririka Hironaka set the pace for laps, closely followed by Britain’s Eilish McColgan.
With nine laps to go, the Ethiopian women picked up the pace. They wanted to make the race hard to tire out Hassan, who is known for her strong sprint.
Hassan, named Sportswoman of the Year in the Netherlands at the end of 2021, slowly but surely advanced. However, she lacked the strength to trump the competition on the last lap.
Hassan knew short preparation
In the run-up to the World Cup, Hassan tempered expectations. In the past year, after her impressive medal harvest at the Olympic Games in Tokyo, the Dutchman had mental and physical problems and a fourth holiday for months.
She only started her preparation for the World Cup ten weeks ago and more than a week ago at the Stumptown Twilight Meet in Portland she ran her first race (5,000 meters) of the year. She won immediately, although there was no serious opposition.
Hassan will be back in action on Wednesday
Hassan also runs the 5,000 meters in this tournament, the distance on which she won Olympic gold last year, just like in the 10,000 meters.
Unlike at the Tokyo Games, she does not compete in the 1,500 meters, where she took bronze in Tokyo.
The series of the 5,000 meters are Wednesday from 1.25 am Dutch time.