:quality(80)/cdn-kiosk-api.telegraaf.nl/9901e43a-f12b-11eb-9919-02d1dbdc35d1.jpg "Big favorite Sifan Hassan convincingly to final 5000 meters despite ‘a lot of stress’ | Sport")
sport">Hassan hid in the back of the field for most of the race and only moved forward in the last 600 meters. With 200 meters to go, she accelerated and seemingly relaxed for the win. Kenyan Agnes Jebet Tirop finished second in 14.48.01. Ethiopian Senbere Teferi was third in 14.48.31.
sport">Hassan also competed in the 2016 Rio Games, but was unable to win a medal. She finished fifth in the 1500 meters final and stranded in the 800 meters series. She is now one of the best runners in the world in both the middle and long distances. Her goal in Tokyo is gold at 5000 and 10,000 meters.
Stress
sport">Hassan seemed to place herself without too much effort on her first outing, but appearances were deceiving, the athlete would have you believe after the race. “The race was much tougher than I expected. It was hot and stuffy humid. I’m really happy to have made it to the final,” she said after her series race, which she won in 14.47.89, well above her European record of 14.22.12.
sport">“I’m also so happy because I found it super difficult to concentrate on the race. There is so much to do about the coronavirus, some test positive and then cannot participate. And then there is also uncertainty about what the weather will do. That causes a lot of stress.”
sport">Hassan is aiming for gold in the 5000 and 10,000 meters in Tokyo, but the 28-year-old world top player is also considering adding the 1500 meters. At that distance she is the reigning world champion. She refused to reveal anything about her plans after the race. “I do not know yet. I look at it day by day.”
sport">Never before has an athlete ventured into the combination of 1500, 5000 and 10,000 meters in one tournament.
Dianne van Es
sport">Diane van Es, the second Dutch participant in the 5000 meters, was eliminated in the series. The 22-year-old from Rotterdam finished 16th in her heat in 15.47.01, almost 40 seconds above her personal best.
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Smiling faces at Lieke Klaver, Lisanne de Witte, Jochem Dobber and Ramsey Angela after the first round of the 4×400 meter relay.
Ⓒ HH/ANP
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4×400 meters mixed
sport">The Dutch relay team has convincingly qualified for the final of the new 4×400 meter section at the Olympic Games. Jochem Dobber, Lieke Klaver, Lisanne de Witte and Ramsey Angela took second place in their series in a solid Dutch record of 3.10.69. Only the Polish quartet was faster.
sport">The second place meant a direct passage to the final on Saturday. The Dutch foursome was also faster than the countries in the other series, with the United States winning in 3.11.39. The Polish quartet even set a European record with 3.10.44. That in itself is not so strange, because the number has only been around for a short time and the synthetic track in the Japanese stadium seems especially suitable for the sprint numbers.
sport">Dobber opened strongly and helped Klaver into the lead. She was unable to hold onto the lead and saw a Polish pass just before the change. De Witte and Angela skilfully consolidated second place. The time was much better than the old Dutch record of 3.18.04, which was set in June at the World Relay Championship in Poland. The Orange foursome took more than 7 seconds off in the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo.
sport">A medal in the final on Saturday is certainly a possibility. The Dutch team left strong relay countries such as Jamaica and Great Britain behind and also set a better time than the German team. The United States initially dropped out due to a disqualification from the won series, but that decision was later overturned. The American mixed relay team, reigning world champion and world record holder in the ‘mixed relay’, can therefore still participate in the final on Saturday.
sport">Klaver was very happy with the final spot and the Dutch record. “It felt very solid,” said the 22-year-old athlete, who also competes individually in the 400 meters in Tokyo. “We were only told very shortly in advance who would run in the series. The trainers kept that back as long as possible to keep everyone hungry.”
sport">The Dutch athletics team has the opportunity to put together an even stronger team for the final. For example, Femke Bol, Liemarvin Bonevacia and Tony van Diepen were spared. There is a wide choice for the relay, because many 400-meter runners have been selected because the Orange team also competes in the 4×400 in the women and the men.
Jessica Schilder
sport">Shot putter Jessica Schilder has made a disappointing debut at the Tokyo Olympics. The 22-year-old Volendam performed under her ability in the Olympic Stadium and with her best distance of 17.74 did not qualify for the final by far.
sport">The best twelve qualified for the final battle, Schilder finished nineteenth. Her personal best of 18.77 is more than a meter further than the best punch she had in Tokyo. China’s Lijiao Gong came furthest in qualifying with a distance of 19.46 meters.
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