Record-breaker Shannon Rowbury
“I know it motivates me to perform better and I would imagine it does the same for her.” – Rowbury on her rivalry with fellow ace American Miler Jenny Simpson
By Alex Mills, Athletics Weekly
With less than a year to go until Rio 2016, the women’s 1500m is set to be one of the stand-out events of the upcoming Summer Games following one of the most exciting seasons in the discipline’s history.
Led by the brilliant world champion Genzebe Dibaba, whose world record in Monaco was undoubtedly the middle-distance highlight of the summer, are a glorious cast of females who all brought their best to the table in 2015 as they finally removed the event from the darkness of Asli Cakir Alptekin’s drug-fueled victory at London 2012.
Although a number of the current stars are heading toward their first Olympic experience, for others like the USA’s Shannon Rowbury, Rio offers what is likely to be a third and final chance to succeed on the world’s biggest stage.
Already a double Olympic finalist after having finished seventh in Beijing and fifth in London, the American has put herself in contention to improve on her achievements this time out. This is especially so after a great 2015 for the 2009 world bronze medalist which saw her smash Mary Slaney’s long-time American record with 3:56.29 in a magnificent 1500m race at the Monaco Diamond League.
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