Dibaba sets new women’s World 1500m record

Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba set a new world record in the women’s 1500m at the Monaco Diamond League meet on Friday.

Dibaba, 24, clocked 3min 50.07sec to shatter one of the most controversial records held in recent times -- 3:50.46 run by China’s Yunxia Qu in Beijing in 1993. The world record and other quick times in the discipline were mainly run by Chinese athletes in the 1990s under the guidance of controversial coach Ma Junren. Six of Junren’s athletes were dropped from China’s 27-strong team for failing dope tests ahead of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Victory for Dibaba, the two-time world indoor champion, never looked in doubt, aided by two pace-setters in perfect running conditions.

The record is, remarkably, her fourth currently held, but first outdoors.

She also holds the world records for the indoor 1500, 3000 and 5000m events, carrying on a family tradition that includes elder sister Tirunesh holding the world record in the outdoor 5000m.

 (AFP)