Summary
The winner at the previous Olympics has been the center of the story in women's distance running since 2019, Sifan Hassan. Whether she wins or not, her finishing speed is something all the other competitors need to anticipate. She won the 2019 World Championships, was narrowly edged out to fourth in 2022 and fell down while leading just before the finish line in 2023. Letesenbet Gidey was victimized by her in 2019 getting silver, bronze in 2020, then Gidey won 2022. 2023 was an Ethiopian sweep, Gidey was second there to Gudaf Tsegay. Ejgayehu Taye was the third member of the sweep. The East African rivalry also includes Kenya, Hellen Obiri and Margaret Kipkemboi were silver and bronze in 2022. Beatrice Chebet set the world record earlier this year and already won the 5000 by out-sprinting Faith Kipyegon and Hassan. Tsegay and Lilian Kasait Rengeruk finished behind Chebet in that WR race, the fastest of the year. Gidey, Taye and Obiri did not run here.
With 25 laps to go, none of the contenders wanted to race early. Rino Goshima ended up on the front. They let her stay there for 10 laps. As is typical, Hassan went to the back of the pack. Next it was Daisy Jepkemei's turn to take the point, but only lasted for 2 laps until Lauren Ryan took over. Through this process, Chebet just off the front watching the proceedings. Nadia Battocletti was also nearby. With 10 laps to go, there was some pushing and shoving. Kipkemboi moved to the front. By this point, the pack was down to 13 with all three Kenyans, all three Ethiopians and all three Americans part of it. Tsigie Gebreselama took a lap on the front marked by all three Kenyans. At times the Kenyans tried forming what seemed like a Tour de France style protective wedge around Chebet, Rengeruk on the outside and Kipkemboi. Tsegay was marking Chebet a step behind. With 1500 to go, Parker Valby ran out of the American group who were towards the back of this pack, around the entire pack towards the front. They had seen Kenneth Rooks in the steeplechase and weren't going to have any of that. Kipkemboi sped up, the rest of the pack shuffled with the Ethiopians coming forward as a group on the outside, then everybody else jockeyed for position sometimes four abreast across the track shifting places all with Kipkemboi on the front, the pace quickening. Tsegay moved forward on outside, then Hassan moved up staying on outside. At the bell the three Kenyans were at the front, Chebet running wide, Battocletti sneaking up on the inside. Fotyen Tesfay and Tsegay separated Hassan from the Kenyans while the Americans and Gebreselama were dropping off the back. Through the final turn, Hassan got by the last two Ethiopians and Rengeruk. As they reached the home stretch and the time to race home Chebet finally moved in front of Kipkemboi. Battocletti was right behind Chebet with Hassan another step behind. By the time Hassan got past Kipkemboi, Chebet and Battocletti had some separation. Chebet had 2 metres on Battocletti and held it until easing up 10 metres before the finish line. Battocletti kept coming closing the gap to less than a meter but not enough to steal gold. After sprinting 500 metres, dealing with getting past so many bodies, Hassan couldn't make up the gap and had to settle for bronze. [2]
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