Loibach places second in Hengelo 10,000m as Sifan Hassan wins

Less than six weeks after winning the London Marathon, Dutch star Sifan Hassan returned to the track and, in a far more straightforward fashion, dispatched a strong field to take victory over 10,000m in a world lead of 29:37.80 at the FBK Games in Hengelo on Saturday 3 June. 

On a mild, windy evening at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Stadium, it was clear from early in the race that Hassan was not keen to chase the world record, settling in behind the pacemakers as they towed the field along at 2:57 per kilometre.

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Shortly after 3000m, reached in 8:51.00, Hassan was left in front, ahead of Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama and Kenya’s Grace Loibach Nawowuna. 

Gebreselama moved to the front in the fifth kilometre, but it wasn’t long before Hassan resumed control, passing 5000m in 14:46.01.

Then the pace slowed, from 70 seconds a lap to 71, and then to 72, and soon it was down to two, with Hassan leading Loinach through 7000m in 20:41.67 and 8000m in 23:43.23. 

The Kenyan, a world cross country fourth-place finisher, led through 9000m in 26:47.08, with Hassan biding her time until the last lap – her domain – and she duly swept to the front and blasted a 60.86 final 400m to delight the Dutch crowd and win in 29:37.80. 

Loibach, at just 19 years of age, took second on her 10,000m debut with 29:47.42 – a time that puts her eighth on the world all-time list – while Gebreselama finished third in a PB of 30:04.42. 

Next in was Kenya’s Selah Busienei in 30:26.40, with her compatriot Betty Chelangat just behind in 30:27.94. 

“My goal was to run deep, run hard,” said Hassan, the Olympic 5000m and 10,000m champion who now owns three of the seven fastest ever women's 10,000m times. 

“I had the marathon just six weeks ago and for me, the change was very hard so I wanted to see where I am. I did it and I’m very happy with the time.”

Hassan said she had “mental challenges” adjusting her training from the marathon back to the track. 

“I was teaching myself to hold back in the marathon and now I have to go deep again. The last three laps, I felt very amazing,” she added.