Gudaf Tsegay may have played second fiddle to Kenyan rival Beatrice Chebet for much of this season, but the Ethiopian returned to the limelight with a bang in the women’s mile in London last Saturday.
Diamond League champion in the women’s 5000m in 2023, Tsegay had won none of her three appearances over five kilometres in the Diamond League campaign so far.
Yet good things come to those who wait, and on Saturday Tsegay showed once again why she remains a major contender for multiple titles this season.
Unfazed by a world-class mile field which included 2000m world record holder Jess Hull, Tsegay grabbed the race by the scruff of the neck with some characteristic front-running at the London Stadium.
Having established herself at the front of the pack, Tsegay held off a spirited challenge from Hull to pull away on the home straight.
As she crossed the line, the Wanda Diamond League’s Official Timekeeper OMEGA initially clocked her at 4:11.89, a time quickly revised down to 4:11.88.
As well as a meeting record and a world lead, it was also a new Ethiopian record and a personal best for the 28-year-old.
And perhaps most importantly of all, it also made Tsegay the second-fastest woman in history, overtaking Sifan Hassan, who had been scheduled to compete in the same race before a late dropout.
“It was not easy but to get a meeting record, national record and personal best makes me so happy,” said Tsegay.
“The indoors did not go well for me then I had a small injury so this outdoor season has been hard for me but I come back even stronger.”
