Just two days after Sifan Hassan clocked a world 10,000m record of 29:06.82 in Hengelo, Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey – competing on the same track in the Dutch city – improved the mark by five seconds with 29:01.03 to win the Ethiopian Trials on Tuesday (8).

On 7 August 1992, at the Barcelona Olympic Games, two women lined up for the 10,000m not knowing that their spontaneous post-race display of fair play and celebration would have an impact on Africa and the world.

There was little about Sifan Hassan’s run at the FBK Games in Hengelo on Sunday (6) that gave the impression she was being patient. Eyes firmly fixed on the path ahead, her arms pumping and legs turning with incredible consistency, she looked like a person who had places to be – and fast.

Johannes Vetter produced the standout performance among an all-star cast of talent at the Golden Spike in Ostrava, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, on Wednesday (19).

Six athletes, led by Andrea Seccafien and Zounair Talbi, achieved Olympic standards as Track Meet action got under way with three 10,000m races in Irvine, California, on Friday (14).

Hugues Fabrice Zango, Christian Taylor and Jacob Kiplimo will be among the athletes competing in front of a 1500-strong crowd when the Golden Spike, a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold meeting, takes place in Ostrava on 19 May.

Many Ethiopians respect Gurage people for being business savvy, who skillfully manage the demands of agricultural upkeep and urban commerce between Addis Ababa and the countryside. Selemon Barega, one of the most talented distance runners Ethiopia has ever seen, is a proud Gurage.

Sifan Hassan is to return to the FBK Games, part of the World Athletics Continental Tour Gold series, in Hengelo where she will target a quick 10,000m on Sunday 6 June.

Rose Davies, Brett Robinson and Linden Hall victorious in Box Hill

Hitomi Niiya and Akira Aizawa smashed the Japanese national 10,000m records at the National distance running championships in Osaka on Friday (4).

The Spanish city of Valencia had never seen an outdoor world record on the track before Wednesday night (7) but within the space of 50 minutes it witnessed not one but two, as Uganda’s Joshua Cheptegei and Ethiopia’s Letesenbet Gidey went into new territory.

Sifan Hassan, Faith Kipyegon and Yomif Kejelcha are among the stars signed up for a middle and long distance meeting set for 10 October at FBK Stadium in the Dutch city of Hengelo.