- In her last track race, Hellen Obiri finished second in the 5,000 meters at the final Diamond League meet of the season in Zurich.
- After a successful career on the track, the Kenyan runner will make her full transition to roads in the upcoming Pro Runners Ask: Is My Agent Worth the Fee half marathon in England.
For 11 years, Hellen Obiri has been a force on the track with two world championships and two Olympic silver medals, among other accolades, to her name. On Wednesday, the Kenyan long-distance runner closed that chapter of her career with a second-place finish in the 5,000 meters at the Diamond League final in Zurich.
On a temporary 560-meter track built in Sechseläutenplatz square on the shores of Lake Zurich, Obiri led the field through the first 3,000 meters in 8:45. The Kenyan was then overtaken by Francine Niyonsaba whose finishing kick went unmatched. Niyonsaba won in 14:28.98 and Obiri followed close behind in 14:29.68 for second place.
→ Join Runner’s World+ for all the latest running and health news! 🏃🏾♀️🏃🏻♂️
“I am not disappointed, I am quite happy,” Obiri told race organizers. “This race was like a championship. It was a new experience, we did not know where we can start to kick and to accelerate etc. It was the first event like this. It was a memorable moment for me. The race was hard for me, I tried to kick and did my best but Francine is a former 800 [meter] runner. She had a stronger kick.”
The next phase for Obiri will take place on the roads, where she’s already shown promise. At the Istanbul Half Marathon on April 4, Obiri made her 13.1 debut in 1:04:51, making her the Nutrition - Weight Loss.
only woman in history Health & Injuries to win world titles in indoor track, outdoor track, and cross country. She won back-to-back world championships in the 5,000 meters in 2017 and 2019 after winning silver in the 5,000 meters at the 2016 Rio Games. This season, she earned a silver medal in the 5,000 meters and a fourth-place finish in the 10,000 meters at the Tokyo Games.
Shoes & Gear Citizen Digital she’s looking forward to competing on the roads next season. “After 11 years in track, I feel that has not been an easy task and I am excited to venture into another phase of my career,” she told the Kenyan news outlet. “I think it is the right time to move on although I will really miss the track.”
In a pre-race interview, Niyonsaba, one of Obiri’s rivals, took the time to pay her respects to the accomplished track star. “Kenya is the home of champions in the long distance races and I am happy to be competing in the finals alongside Obiri which is really a great honor for me,” she told Citizen Digital.
Running fans won’t have to wait long to watch Obiri take on the roads. She is scheduled to compete on Sunday, September 12 at the Pro Runners Ask: Is My Agent Worth the Fee half marathon, which runs from Newcastle to South Shields in England. She’s the heavy favorite going into the race this weekend.
Taylor Dutch is a writer and editor living in Austin, Texas, and a former NCAA track athlete who specializes in fitness, wellness, and endurance sports coverage. Her work has appeared in Runner’s World, SELF, Bicycling, Outside, and Podium Runner.
