Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay set a world-leading time in the women’s 1500m at the inaugural Nanjing World Challenge on Tuesday.
Tsegay, who was edged out at the line by just a tenth of a second in Shanghai three days ago, learned from that and left no room for her pursuers here, holding her position over the final 30 metres en route to a 3:59.57 clocking, the fifth fastest performance of her career.
The 22-year-old Ethiopian held off compatriot Axumawit Embaye, who clocked a 4:00.17 lifetime best, and Dutchwoman Sifan Hassan, who improved her season’s best to 4:00.53.
Botswana’s Nijel Amos took another decisive men’s 800m victory, his second in as many outings this season.
Similarly to his world-leading win in Doha 18 days ago, Amos was dominant down the homestretch en route to a 1:44.38 clocking, .09 shy of his world lead. Kenyan Cornelius Tuwei was a distant second in 1:44.91 with another Kenyan Jonathan Kitilit third (1:45.58).
In the women’s 800n race, Shanghai 1500m winner Rababe Arafi of Morocco put on another strong homestretch performance to nearly pull off another victory on her Chinese tour but was ultimately denied by Nelly Jepkosgei. The Kenyan won by a scant 0.04 in 1:59.98 to notch the biggest international victory of his career.
Kenyan Benjamin Kigen won the men’s 3000m steeplechase in 8:08.94, his second fastest time ever, pulling away from compatriot Abraham Kibiwott over the last 200 meters. Kibiwott clocked 8:10.27.
In partnership with ANA and Mediapix
