Genzebe Dibaba won the women’s race on 3:56.73 while Tilahun Haile clocked a world-leading 12:52.98 at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Rome Thursday.
After being paced through the first 800m in 2:09.24, Genzebe Dibaba overtook the second pacemaker before they reached 1000m (2:40.6). She continued to lead from fellow Ethiopian Gudaf Tsegay with European champion Laura Muir close behind in third.
They moved up a gear with one lap to go and Muir caught Tsegay with 200m remaining. Dibaba and Muir, now both moving at top speed, kicked again in a desperate bid for the line. While Muir appeared to make up a bit of ground, there was no catching Dibaba who won in 3:56.28 – her fastest time since breaking the world record in 2015. Muir was just a stride behind in 3:56.73, the second-fastest time of her career.
Paced through 1000m in 2:33 and 2000m in 5:08.8, it was clear from the outset that the finishing time would be well inside 13 minutes. Once the pacemakers had dropped out, Diamond League champion Selemon Barega did much of the work at the front.
Five or six men were still in contention as they reached the bell in 11:58.3. Tilahun and Hagos Gebrehiwot led with Selomon close behind. Selomon looked to have timed his final effort well and hit the front with 200m to go, but Tilahun wasn’t done and kicked back in the final stages, catching his fellow Ethiopian just before the line.
Tilahun crossed the line in 12:52.98 with Solomon close behind in 12:53.04. Six men in total finished inside 13 minutes.