News25 Apr 2016


Home stars Schippers and Hassan to star in Hengelo

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Sifan Hassan on her way to winning the 1500m in Hengelo (© Getty Images)

Organisers of the AA Drink FBK Games have confirmed that world 200m champion Dafne Schippers and world indoor 1500m champion Sifan Hassan will compete in front of their home crowd at the IAAF World Challenge meeting in Hengelo on 22 May.

Last year in Hengelo, Schippers won the 100m with a Dutch record of 10.92, a time she went on to improve twice at the IAAF World Championships Beijing 2015 en route to taking the silver medal in that event.

Schippers, who last weekend opened her outdoor season with a world-leading clocking of 22.25, will contest the 200m in Hengelo this year.

“The race in Hengelo last year gave me confidence for the rest of the season,” she said. “The enthusiastic crowd and the whole atmosphere of this competition are very important to me.”

Hassan, meanwhile, will contest the 2000m and will target the world record of 5:23.36, set in 1994 by Sonia O’Sullivan.

“The enthusiasm and support of the crowd at the AA Drink FBK Games gives you that little bit extra compared to competitions abroad,” said the world bronze medallist, who holds the Dutch records for 1500m (3:56.05) and 3000m (8:29.38). “It will hopefully help me to achieve the fastest time ever for this distance. It’s not an easy record, but I hope to show the crowd something good.”

Organisers for the IAAF

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