Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan showcased her remarkable talent once again, triumphing over a strong field in the 10,000m event at the FBK Games in Hengelo, Netherlands on June 3.
This impressive victory came less than six weeks after her London Marathon triumph.
At just 19 years old, Kenya’s Grace Nawowuna made an outstanding debut in the 10,000m race, securing second place with a remarkable time of 29:47.42. This achievement propelled her to the eighth spot on the world’s all-time list.
Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama also delivered an excellent performance, finishing third and setting a personal best of 30:04.42.
Selah Busienei of Kenya crossed the finish line in fourth place with a time of 30:26.40, closely followed by her compatriot Betty Chelangat, who finished fifth in 30:27.94.
Throughout the race, both Hassan and Nawowuna took turns leading the field in the slow-paced event, maintaining a steady pace of 2:57 per kilometre. Hassan took the lead as they reached the 7,000m mark in 20:41.67 and the 8,000m mark in 23:43.23.
As they approached the final stages, Nawowuna led through the 9,000m mark in 26:47.08, with Hassan strategically positioned behind her, ready to make her move in the last lap. And that is exactly what she did.
With a burst of speed, Hassan surged ahead in the final 400m, clocking an impressive time of 60.86 seconds. Her exceptional performance delighted the Dutch crowd as she crossed the finish line in 29:37.80, claiming a world-leading time.
Reflecting on her achievement, Hassan expressed her satisfaction with the race, explaining, “My goal was to push myself to the limit. Having competed in the marathon just six weeks ago, the transition was challenging, so I wanted to assess my current form. I accomplished that, and I’m thrilled with my time.”
Once again, Sifan Hassan proved her prowess on the track, leaving spectators in awe of her extraordinary talent and determination. Her exceptional performance at the FBK Games solidifies her status as one of the world’s top long-distance runners.
