Hellen Obiri and Sifan Hassan in the 5000m at the IAAF World Championships London 2017 (© Getty Images)
This event will bring together the two athletes who produced what was arguably the most dramatic conclusion to any women’s distance event this season, Hellen Obiri of Kenya and Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands.
Obiri defied the efforts of the recently established European 5000m champion to get past her in Zurich last Thursday as she hung on to win the IAAF Diamond League title over 5000m, the distance at which she won world gold in London last summer.
Given that the distance here is closer to what is Hassan’s preferred event, however, the Dutch athlete may be considered a marginal favourite. That said, Obiri won world bronze over 1500m at the 2013 World Championships in Moscow.
The duo's impressive range and change of gears will mean they'll be well equipped for the elimination format of the race.
Other top class contenders include Obiri’s Africa teammate Senbere Teferi, the 2015 world 5000m silver medallist, who is fourth on this year’s world list for 5000m with the 14:23.33 she clocked to finish fourth at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rabat.
That race was won by Obiri in 14:21.75, the fastest time run this season, with Hassan second in a European record of 14:22.34 – the second fastest time run this season.
Germany’s Konstanze Klosterhalfen is another talented contender for Europe, with a 2018 best of 15:03.73 set in finishing fourth in last month’s European Championships.
Mike Rowbottom for the IAAF
