by Larry Eder
What a meet: 5000 m World record, Qatari 400 m sensation from nowhere
STOCKHOLM (SWE, Feb 19): The 26th XL-Galan was again something special. In total one World record (16th in the history of the meet), five more World leads and 4 Arena records is the high quality statistics summary. The obvious highlight the World indoor record of Genzebe Dibaba in the 5000 m 14:18.86, the fourth fastest time ever (in or out). She improved the former mark of Meseret Defar from 2009 by huge 5.51 seconds. In the process she also clocked World leading 3000 m split 8:37.22. It was the only indoor race for Dibaba. Behind her Birtukan Fente 15:22.56, junior Dagmawit Kidane as 5th 15:35.71 and Austrian record for Jennifer Wenth as 6th 15:43.88. Three more World leads in distance races. First German Homiyu Tesfaye confirmed his World lead with another improvement of German record to 3:34.13. Second Bethwell Birgen 3:34.62 PB, third Collins Cheboi 3:35.90 PB and fourth last year number one Silas Kiplagat 3:38.15. Sweden´s Johan Rogestedt as 7th improved to 3:40.03 and came close to national record (3:39.92). Then in 800 m Qatari Musaeb Balla in great solo after work of pacemaker Bram Som clocked World leading national record 1:45.48. Behind him the Polish star duo topping the European lists 2015, Adam Kszczot 1:45.77 and Marcin Lewandowski 1:45.78. Last World lead in final race of the evening as European champion Sifan Hassan improved her Dutch 1500 m record to 4:00.46. In clear win second Bethlem Desalegn new national record for United Arab Emirates 4:05.61 ahead of 5k Eurowinner Meraf Bahta 4:06.42 PB and Angelika Cichocka from Poland 4:06.44 PB. Early in the meet unexpected World lead in long jump by Canadian Christabel Nettey with 699 in third round, also overall national record and facility best. In first round she got first national indoor record of the day 681. Except of women 5000 m and long jump two more Globen Arena records. In women 200 m by Trinidad´s sub 11 sprinter Michelle-Lee Ahye 23.37 over home talent Irene Ekelund 23.55. The last record looks like science-fiction. Unheralded Qatari Abdalleleh Haroun (born 1997) won the 400 m B race in unbelievable 45.39, Asian junior indoor record. Olympic winner Kirani James clocked on this oval the best so far 45.52 in 2012. Haroun has no result so far in the statistics, was timed in training before with 45.7, informs his coach Jama Aden. World Indoor champion Pavel Maslak won easily the A race but was one second behind 46.38. The crowd (although expected to be more) was happy after long jump as Michel Torneus won with 807 in first round over Greek Louis Tsatoumas 793 and World leader Eusebio Caceres 788. Another Swedish star Angelica Bengtsson also fighted well with 465 third attempt clearance and beat World champion Fabiana Murer 460 (passed 465 and did not clear 470). But the winner was the third lucky one, Greek Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou with 476 national record. Spanish European Champion Ruth Beitia won the high jump (193) and Finnish record holder Nooralotta Neziri hurdles in 8.02. Cuban Orlando Ortega after Berlin and Lodz won also his third race in men hurdles 7.52 ahead of Dayron Robles 7.56 and David Oliver 7.66.
