DeBues-Stafford sets Canadian record while running Brave Like Gabe Mile
CBC Sports | Posted: July 12, 2019 8:21 PM | Last Updated: July 13, 2019
Race honoured late American Gabriele Grunewald who died of cancer last month at 32
Running in honour of the late American runner Gabriele Grunewald, Canadian Gabriela DeBues-Stafford set a national record in the 1-mile at Friday's Diamond League event in Monaco.
The Brave Like Gabe Mile didn't disappoint. Sifan Hassan of the Netherlands set a world record with a time of four minutes, 12.33 seconds and DeBues-Stafford set the Canadian record finishing third with a time of 4:17.87, 15 seconds faster than her previous personal-best.
"She was so positive and warm," DeBues-Stafford recalls of Grunewald, who died last month at age 32 after inspiring many with her long and public fight against cancer. "She radiated a lot of energy and it was admirable when she battled such adversity."
Hassan fractionally beat the 4:12.56 set in 1996 by Svetlana Masterkova, a two-time Olympic champion that year in Atlanta.
Hassan knocked two seconds off her personal best and finished five seconds clear of Britain's Laura Weightman. Toronto native DeBues-Stafford broke Leah Pells' previous national mark of 4:23.28 set on Aug. 14, 1996.
WATCH | Hassan breaks world record in women's mile, Debues-Stafford breaks Canadian mark
"The first 800 was a bit slow, so after that I wasn't thinking it would be a world record," Hassan said. "When I crossed the line I was so surprised. After you run the last 400 like that and set a world record, it gives me [you] much confidence over 5,000 … I want to double over 1,500 and 5,000 in Doha."
Gatlin wins 100m
In the men's 100 metres, there was another win for world champion Justin Gatlin.
The 37-year-old Gatlin clocked 9.91 seconds to narrowly beat Noah Lyles in 9.92 — Gatlin's winning time last Friday at the Athletissima Diamond League in Lausanne.
Michael Rodgers made it a United States podium sweep with 10.01 for third, having run the same time in Lausanne.
"It's all about putting together a good technical race, to use my experience. It feels great to beat these guys," said Gatlin, the 2004 Olympic champion. "This season is surreal; I can't believe I'm still winning here. Noah is a great runner, so every time I race him I'm excited."
WATCH | Justin Gatlin wins men's 100m race to complete all-American podium
Other Results
Nijel Amos of Botswana won the 800, with a world-leading time of 1:41.89.
Canadian Brandon McBride finished fifth, setting a season's best with 1:43.83.
WATCH | Nijel Amos wins men's 800m race in Monaco with world-leading time
Matt Hughes was the only other Canadian who competed, placing 12th in the men's 3,000 steeplechase.