Roehler keeps Zelezny in sights, Obiri upsets Dibaba
ROME: Olympic champion Thomas Roehler kept the javelin world record in his crosshairs at the Rome Diamond League on Thursday, where Kenya’s Hellen Obiri upset the 5000m world record plans of Ethiopian rival Genzebe Dibaba.
In Doha last month, Roehler’s 93.90 metre effort was well short of retired Czech legend Jan Zelezny’s 1996 world mark of 98.48, but was still the best the sport had seen in 20 years.
Al though st i l l s hor t on Thursday, the 25-year-old German overcame some early wobbles, and determined compatriot Johannes Vetter, to triumph with his sixth attempt, of 90.6m.
Vetter was second in 88.15 and Trinidad and Tobago’s Keshorn Walcott third with a season best throw of 86.61.
“I was really motivated to throw it far and the conditions were good, but I had to wait for my sixth attempt,” said Roehler.
“Johannes pushed me really hard, to throw further. In the end, I threw over 90m again and I’m really, really happy.”
Ideal conditions graced the 37th edition of the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea, but Dibaba’s hopes of adding the outdoor world record — held by her sister Tirunesh in 14:11.15 — to her own 5000m world indoor record were picked apart.
Obiri had clocked a worldleading 14: 22.47 for the distance in Shanghai to go three seconds faster than Dibaba did in Eugene a fortnight later, and upset her rivals plans in sensational style.
“When I came to this race, I told myself that nobody can beat me,” said Obiri.
Before the 10-minute mark she soloed away from Dibaba to go it alone for the final laps and finish amid a standing ovation to set a new world leading time of 14:18.37, which is a new national record.
Kenya’s Agnes Jebet Tirop was second in a personal best of 14: 33.09, with Letesenbet Gidey saving Ethiopia’s podium blushes to finish third in 14: 33.32.
Dibaba was sixth in 14: 41.55 and Obiri added: “I was looking to 14:18, and I think I can even improve it at the next competition.
“I thought Genzebe would push it forward to go faster but when she didnt’, I tried to push myself.” — AFP