| Muir set a deteriorating pace in the final, with the first lap of 65.35 (by photo-cell), followed by a funereal 71.78. Kipyegon stayed on the Briton’s shoulder and edged in front on the penultimate backstraight, but then Hassan quickly swept by everyone and led through the bell (3:04.55), with Kipyegon, Simpson and Muir in close attendance. The Dutchwoman covered the next 200m in 27.99, drawing Kipyegon clear of the pack while Muir separated herself from the chasers as they turned into the finishing straight. It looked as if the medals would go to those three as Kipyegon broke clear from Hassan, but then both Simpson and Semenya (eighth with 250m to go) made their final efforts. Just as Muir caught the fading Hassan, she too was reeled in by the American and South African. The four were all in a line with 25m left. Simpson finished quickest on the inside and won silver a metre ahead of Semenya, who edged Muir on the line after a 57.60 last lap. The first half had been run at 4:17.1 pace, the last 700m at a 3:46.0 tempo. World record holder Dibaba, such a dominant winner in 2015, finished last. |
