Rounding out her impressive comingout season, Maryam Yusef Jamal captured a stunning victory in the 1500m.
Blasting to the lead with 500 metres to go, the 20-year-old Ethiopian-born Bahraini built an insurmountable gap and eventually reached the line in 3:59.35, her third sub-four minute performance of the season, and most importantly to her, another commanding victory over World champion Tatyana Tomashova.
In Helsinki last month, Jamal was impeded on the backstretch of the final lap, and eventually finished fifth. In Rieti 12 days ago, Jamal bounced back with a world-leading 3:56.79. Here, with her bold move on the turn heading into the penultimate lap, she avoided a repeat of the Helsinki scenario.
With a strong homestretch performance, Tomashova made up much of the large gap Jamal created, but still finished nearly a second back in 4:00.28.
Russian Natalya Yevdokimova, who led the first 1000 metres of the race, held on for third (4:00.60), just ahead of Frenchwoman Bouchra Ghezielle’s personal best 4:01.28.
Helsinki silver medallist Olga Yegorova was never in the hunt here, and finished well back in ninth (4:07.71).
BR
