Sarah Billings showcased her remarkable talent at the Diamond League meet in Shanghai, finishing second in the women’s 800m with a time of 1:57.83. This impressive performance put her just 0.05 seconds shy of Catriona Bisset’s Australian record of 1:57.78. The race, held on Saturday, saw Billings competing fiercely against Ethiopian runner Tsige Duguma, who claimed victory with a time of 1:56.64.
Billings’s accomplishment was undoubtedly the highlight of her athletic career. She ran a personal best and demonstrated her talent among the world’s best on a global stage. The near miss of the national record had her thrilled — a clear demonstration of her competitive nature and ambition.
“I couldn’t be happier,” – Sarah Billings
A Close Contender
Against the lively backdrop of Shanghai, Billings rose to the occasion with an impressive run that just fell short of the national record. Her time of 1:57.83 reflects her hard work and dedication and positions her as one of Australia’s leading middle-distance runners.
After the race, Billings said she felt great about what happened. She noted just how close she was to shattering Bisset’s nearly 40 year old record. She did not lose sight of the importance of doing something that historic on a global stage.
“But that was pretty close to the national record, so I’m really happy.” – Sarah Billings
Looking Ahead
Billings has now officially booked her ticket to next year’s world championships, where she will be running the 1,500m distance. In particular, she stressed that this distance should continue to be her redline, going forward.
Despite her recent success in the 800m, she is determined to excel in the 1,500m and anticipates using her recent experiences to enhance her performance. Last week, she ran the Xiamen leg of the Diamond League circuit. She had a great last lap to place 3rd in the 1,000m.
“I’ve been picked for the world championships in the 1,500m already, so that’s still the main goal.” – Sarah Billings
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