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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Having established herself at the front of the pack, Tsegay held off a spirited challenge from Hull to pull away on the home straight.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It was not easy but to get a meeting record, national record and personal best makes me so happy,” said Tsegay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
“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.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n