World indoor champion Samuel Tefera clocked a 3:35.57 world lead in the 1500m to highlight the Orlen Copernicus Cup in Torun, Poland, the third stop on the 2019 IAAF World Indoor Tour, last Wednesday.
The 19-year-old Ethiopian Samuel Tefera shot to the front from the gun, running in the shadow of the pacesetter but for most of the first 1200 meters along with fellow Ethiopian Aman Wote and Polish record holder Marcin Lewandowski. Though the Pole moved up second with two laps to go Samuel stood strong till last crossing the line in 3:35.57.
The women’s 800m was billed as an assault on Ajee Wilson’s 1:59.26 world lead, and more specifically for Laura Muir, on the 1:58.43 British record held by Jenny Meadows since the 2010 World Indoor Championships. The race may have fallen a little short on those counts, but wasn’t bereft of drama.
Habitam Alemu, the fourth place finisher at last year’s World Indoor Championships won the Women’s 800 meter which was billed as an assault on Ajee Wilson’s 1:59.26 world lead. The race may have failed a little short on those accounts but Habitam who stayed strong from the gun, choose to run close to the pacesetter. Muir pressed the race to the limit but Habitam held firm, fighting off the Briton’s challenge over the waning meters and through to the line clocking 1:59.49, just 0.01 ahead of Muir. Both were rewarded with personal bests.