Genzebe Dibaba

The two-time World Champion shocked the world in Monaco on Friday with a world record performance in the women’s 1500m, running 3:50.07 for the win. In a perfectly paced race, Dibaba broke the 22-year-old world record of 3:50.46 held by Qu Yunxia of China. 

 

The race went out aggressive from the gun with Dibaba splitting just over 60 seconds for the first 400m, running closely behind pacer Chanelle Price. She fell off the pace slightly in the second lap, splitting 2:04 for 800m. Despite the drop off, Dibaba returned on the third lap to split 60 seconds and threw down a hammer to close in a jaw-dropping 59 seconds for the final 400m. Dibaba crossed the line just under the world record, and fell to the track in total shock of what she had just accomplished. 

 

Dibaba now holds the outdoor 1500m and indoor 1500m, 3K, two-mile, and 5K world records. 
 

Shannon Rowbury

In the same historic race, Shannon Rowbury claimed the American record with a furious kick to the finish against 2011 World Champion Jenny Simpson, crossing the line in 3:56.29. Rowbury’s performance took down Mary Slaney’s long-standing record of 3:57.12 that stood since 1983. Her previous personal best in the event was 3:59.49 from July 2014.
 

.@ShannonRowbury breaks Decker’s 31-year-old American record in the 1500m: http://t.co/fwSrMhs4WC #MonacoDL pic.twitter.com/Z0HO5LIBQT

— USATF (@usatf) July 17, 2015

Asbel Kiprop

The two-time World Champion and 2008 Olympic gold medalist threw down the fastest 1500m of 2015 against a stacked field of competitors Friday in Monaco. 20 meters ahead of the rest of the field, Kiprop crossed the finish line in 3:26.69 to beat runner-up Taoufik Makhloufi by more than two seconds. Kiprop made his intentions clear in the first 400m, splitting 53 seconds behind the pacers. Kiprop came through the 800m in 1:50 and took over from the pacers to close the third lap in 55 and cross the finish line in 3:26.69. His performance makes him the third-fastest 1500m runner in history, behind Hicham El Guerrouj (3:26.00) and Bernard Lagat (3:26.34). 

 

Amel Tuka

 

The 24-year-old from Bosnia shocked even himself Friday in Monaco after clocking a world lead and huge personal best in the 800m. Tuka unleashed a kick in the final 400m to take down Nijel Amos and Ayanleh Souleiman with a winning time of 1:42.51, more than half a second faster than the previous world leading-mark set by Souleiman a week earlier. 

 

Lauren Johnson

Johnson can now rest easy knowing that she has earned the IAAF 1500m standard to compete at the World Championships. In a three-second personal best, Johnson clocked a 4:04.17 finishing time Saturday in Huesden, Belgium to solidify her spot on Team USA. After finishing fourth at the USATF Outdoor Championships behind Jenny Simpson, Shannon Rowbury, and Kerri Gallagher, Johnson will now officially be able to join them in competing in Beijing this August. 

Got my world standard last night! So thankful for all the support from this guy and glad he was there… https://t.co/55EiQUz5HA

— Lauren Johnson (@JohnsonRunning) July 19, 2015

Ben True

True will also be able to officially compete for Team USA after earning the IAAF 5K standard Saturday in Huesden with a third-place finish in 13:06. He only needed to break 13:23 in order to be considered to compete for Team USA, but True made an even bigger statement with a performance that was just four seconds off of his personal best. Now that he has the IAAF standard in the 5K, True has said he will forgo his spot on the 10,000m squad for Team USA to focus on the 5,000m in Beijing. 

 

Candace Hill

The 16-year-old sprint sensation from Rockdale High School in Georgia, made history at the IAAF World Youth Championships with titles in the 100m and 200m distances. Hill’s performances make her the second-ever female to sweep both races at the championship meet. She started the competition with a win in the 100m at 11.08 and closed the championship yesterday with a 200m victory in a World Youth best of 22.43.