Genzebe Dibaba breaks African 1500m record with 3:54.11

Genzebe Dibaba breaks African 1500m record with 3:54.11

AW
Published: 09th July, 2015
Updated: 3rd February, 2025
BY Athletics Weekly

Ethiopian world indoor record-holder clocked the quickest outdoor time since 1997 and goes to ninth on the all-time list after her performance in Barcelona

Just a few days after her winning 5000m personal best performance in Paris, Genzebe Dibaba returned to the track in Barcelona to clock 3:54.11 for 1500m - an African record that puts the Ethiopian world indoor record-holder for the distance ninth on the world outdoor all-time list.

It is the quickest outdoor time since 1997 and improves her PB by more than three seconds. It is also quicker than the 3:55.17 she ran indoors last year.

After following the pacemaker to 700m, the 24-year-old ran a solo last two laps and crossed the line more than 18 seconds clear of runner up Solange Pereira of Spain.

Also in Barcelona, Ayanleh Souleiman was another to clock a world-leading time as Djibouti's world indoor 1500m champion ran an 800m national record of 1:43.08. Behind him, Kenya's world youth 1500m champion Robert Biwott ran a 1:43.56 PB.

» Video via La Bolsa del Corredor on YouTube

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