Bolt won in Rome but Abeba Aregawi was the big surprise

Usain Bolt was the main attraction in Rome Diamond League when he won the 100 m in a world leading 9.76. But 1500 m winner Abeba Aregawi was the big surprise when she smashed her PB to a sensational meeting record and a new world seasonal best.

Ethiopian Abeba Aregawi, who live in the Stockholm suburb of Solna was the big surprise of a fantastic middle-distance night at Rome Olympic Stadion. The 21-year-old runner, who finished second in Shanghai in 3:59.23, smashed her PB to a sensational meeting record and new world seasonal best of 3:56.54. Kenyan Helen Obiri, World indoor champion in the 3000 metres, also set a new PB with 3:59.58.

World Indoor champion Genzebe Dibaba, winner in Shanghai with with the previous seasonal best of 3:57.77, had to settle with third place with 4:00.85. US Morgan Uceny, winner of the Diamond Race in 2011, was the first non-African runner in fourth place in 4:01.59, a new seasonal best. 

Aregawi was delighted with her victory
– It was a surprise for me to win but even bigger surprise is the time. I knew I was back on the scene already in Shanghai but the weather conditions were better here and I felt great. I had a bad year in 2011 as I suffered from a right knee injury. Now I am ready to run fast times and I hope to keep the shape till the Olympic Games”, said Aregawi who is married with Swede Henok Weldegebriel.

The women’s 1500 m is a Diamond League event at DN Galan on 17 August and Abeba Aregawi will hopefully compete at Stockholm Olympic Stadium.Results

Jonas Hedman