Tirunesh Dibaba is sometimes called the “Golden Girl” for all of the Olympic and World Championships gold medals she has won: two in the Beijing Olympics, two in the 2005 World Championships, and one each in Paris 2003 and Osaka 2007.
Five gold medals in World Cross Country Championships races. The 24-year-old Ethiopian is virtually unbeatable when healthy, and she is healthy now, and ready to show why she’s also known as “The Baby-Faced Destroyer.”
In her first appearance at Hayward Field in the 36th annual Prefontaine Classic on Saturday, the sixth stop of the Samsung Diamond League series, Dibaba has asked for a very fast pace, possibly fast enough to challenge the meet record of 14:38.73, set two years ago by her arch-rival and compatriot, Meseret Defar.
Dibaba, a two-time World record setter in the event, has a lifetime collection of marks that includes more than a dozen times faster than that, topped by her 14:11.15 from 2008.
The field also includes another swift Ethiopian, Wude Ayelew, the bronze medallist over 10,000m at last year's World Championships. Despite her youthful 22 years, Ayelew has already displayed phenomenal range, from her 14:38.44 5000m career best to a fast 1:07:58 in the Half Marathon.
Hoping to stay with Dibaba on Saturday is Shalane Flanagan, the U.S. 5000m record holder, whose 14:44.80 national standard indicates she can be dangerous. Add in 2010 USA Track & Field 5k champ Lauren Fleshman and 10k titlist Amy Begley, and the race up front should be fun to watch.
Women's 5000m field in Eugene:
- Tirunesh Dibaba (Ethiopia)
- Sally Kipyego (Kenya)
- Shalane Flanagan
- Jen Rhines
- Lauren Fleshman
- Renee Baillie
- Amy Hastings
- Megan Metcalfe
- Amy Yoder-Begley
- Wude Ayalew (Ethiopia)
- Pauline Korikwiang
- Desiree Davila
- Treniere Moser
- Julia Howard (Canada) - pace
- Carey Dimoff - pace
- Eloise Wellings (Australia)--pace