Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba has made it a habit of turning in jaw-dropping performances over the last couple years, and today’s 1500m in Barcelona was no different, as the 24-year-old ran 3:54.11 in a race where she finished more than 18 seconds faster than second place. 

 

Owner of four World records indoors (1500m, 3,000m, two-mile, and 5,000m), Dibaba today became the ninth fastest woman ever in the outdoor 1500, running the best time since 1997. Her 3:54 is an African record, and lowers the previous 2015 World lead (Jenny Simpson’s 3:59.31) by more than five seconds. 

 

What’s more remarkable is that Dibaba just ran a 14:15 5k PR just four days ago in Paris, beating 2015 World leader Almaz Ayana soundly by seven seconds. That time ranks her as the fourth-fastest woman ever over 5,000m. 

 

It’s possible, but certainly unlikely that Dibaba will run the 1500m and 5,000m at the IAAF World Championships in August. This double would require her to run five total races, three rounds of the 1500, plus two in the 5k. That’s quite the workload even for someone of Dibaba’s caliber, and more likely than not, she’ll pick one over the other.

 

If she opts to stick with one event, her last two races have likely made her decision very difficult. 

More from Barcelona - Ayanleh Souleiman Runs 1:43.08 800 World-Lead

Dibaba wasn't the only one turning heads in Spain on Wednesday, as Djibouti's Ayanleh Souleiman won the men's 800m in a world-leading 1:43.08, a new national record for the 22-year-old.

Souleiman has already recorded two major victories in 2015- he won the Doha 800 on May 15th in 1:43.78 and grabbed his second consecutive Bowerman mile on May 30th at the Pre Classic in 3:51.10.

Speaking of doubles, Souleiman ran both the 800 and 1500 at the 2013 World Championships, earning bronze in the 800 but failing to qualify to the final in the 1500. 

Considering how well he's running in 2015, it will be interesting to see if he attempts this double again this year.