Aregawi’s World Record Mission Made Tougher for Stockholm

Published by IAAF on February 4, 2014

Almost immediately as Abeba Aregawi had finished the 1500m at last year’s XL-Galan, having missed the world indoor record by an agonising 12 hundredths of a second, she decided to return to the IAAF Indoor Permit meeting in Stockholm on 6 February even more determined to break the mark.

But just a few days ago, Aregawi’s goal changed dramatically as Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba stormed to 3:55.17 in Karlsruhe, lowering the world indoor record by more than three seconds in one blow.

The magnitude of that performance is best illustrated by the fact that it is faster than any outdoor performance for more than 16 years.

At a press conference on Tuesday, the obvious question for Aregawi was how her plans had been affected by Dibaba’s performance.

“Of course it was a great time and it is obvious that she has trained very well,” said the world champion. “But so have I, and apart for a couple of weeks with a stomach bug around new year, everything has gone according to plan.

“So my previous ambition still stands, I want to try to challenge the world record on Thursday.”

Dibaba’s super run in Karlsruhe also changed the face of the women’s 3000m in Stockholm. Before, it looked to be an exciting dress rehearsal for the IAAF World Indoor Championships next month with Dibaba up against reigning champion Hellen Obiri.

But considering the amazing form Dibaba showed last week, and the fact that last year in Stockholm she missed Meseret Defar’s world indoor 3000m record by less than three seconds, the race on Thursday night could take on another exciting dimension.