Tokyo 2020 Olympics – Women’s 5000m Preview
Dylan WykesThere are several great storylines in the women’s 5000m. The most interesting being Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands who is attempting an unprecedented triple at the Olympics, competing in the 1,5000m, 5000m and 10000m. We also have a great Canadian contingent with Andrea Seccafien, Kate Van Buskirk and Julie-Anne Staehli all representing Canada on Friday.
Making the final of the women’s 5000m requires being top 5 in your heat, or one of the 5 fastest non-automatic qualifiers. We like the chances for our Canadian women to make it through to the final. All three women set their personal best in the 5,000m this year. And just so you know these ladies all have PB’s between 14:57 and 15:01. It’s astounding and exciting because they’re coming into this thing in the best shape of their lives. Both Julie-Anne and Kate are coming off strong runs over 1,500m in recent weeks. These heats are often a sit and kick affair so that 1,500m speed could really come in handy for them. Andrea has world championship experience that will hopefully help her find the right positioning.
Andrea and Julie-Anne go in heat 1 at 6:00am EST Friday. And Kate follows immediately after in heat 2.
The main contenders in this event are the previously mentioned Sifan Hassan, Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay, and Hellen Obiri. Tsegay has come on really strong in 2021 and has the world-leading time of 14:13. Hellen Obiri is a veteran in this event. She has won the Commonwealth Games, World Indoors, World Outdoors, and World XC. She also finished 2nd in the 2016 Olympics 5000m. And then there is Hassan, and her much talked about attempt at the 1500m, 5000m, 10000m triple! It would be completely mind-blowing if she can pull it off. But she has done similar in the past winning the 15000m & 10000m at the 2019 Doha World Championships.