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Nelly Chepchirchir triumphed in Zagreb's 800m setting a personal best and meeting record despite not feeling at her peak.
Trailblazing prodigy Nelly Chepchirchir has reacted to her stunning performance at the Boris Hanzekovic Memorial in Zagreb with a mixture of surprise and satisfaction.
Despite coming into the race with lingering fatigue from a previous victory, the 21-year-old managed to set a new meeting record in the women's 800m, clocking in at an impressive 1:57.00.
This not only marked a personal best for Chepchirchir but also positioned her ahead of some of the world's top middle-distance runners.
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The race in Zagreb was highly anticipated, with a field that included 2019 Pan American Games champion Natoya Goule-Toppin from Jamaica, among other elite competitors.
Chepchirchir, fresh off a victory in Silesia where she set a world-leading time in the 1,000m, was not expected to dominate given her recent rigorous schedule.
However, she defied expectations taking the lead in the final stages of the race.
“When I came to Zagreb, I wasn’t expecting to run this fast. I hadn’t fully recovered and wasn’t feeling strong enough,” Chepchirchir confessed in a post-race interview as per The Star.
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At the Silesia meeting on August 25, she had already demonstrated her formidable pace, setting a new world lead time of 2:31.24 in the 1,000m.
The race dynamics in Zagreb further illustrated Chepchirchir's competitive spirit.
Goule-Toppin led at the halfway mark but as the pacemaker stepped aside Chepchirchir made her move. She surged forward on the final bend overcoming her own physical reservations to clinch the victory.
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Goule-Toppin, a formidable opponent, tried to counter in the home stretch but couldn't match Chepchirchir’s finishing strength.
Despite her success, Chepchirchir remains humble and focused on the future.
“I ran my personal best and I am pretty satisfied with my whole season and competitions this year,” she noted.
Moreover, Chepchirchir announced that this would be her final 800m race of the year, as she shifts her focus towards the preparations for 2025.
The competitiveness of the race did not escape her either. She acknowledged the strong field, particularly noting the presence of Goule-Toppin.
“I wasn´t expecting to win here, especially since I saw the start list and saw one of my colleagues here, Natoya,” she explained.
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The atmosphere in Zagreb also played a role in lifting the spirits of the athletes.
“The atmosphere and crowd here were amazing as well,” Chepchirchir added.
Nelly Chepchirchir's rise as a trailblazing figure in athletics continues to inspire many and her performances this season have firmly established her as a formidable force on the international stage.
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