Multiple world record-holder Letesenbet Gidey will be out to achieve her first victory of the year following runner-up finishes in Eugene and Hengelo.
The Ethiopian, who holds world records for 5000m, 10,000m and the half marathon, takes on a handful of her leading compatriots in the 5000m, including world indoor 1500m champion Gudaf Tsegay, 2015 world champion Almaz Ayana and 2016 world indoor silver medallist Dawit Seyaum. Britain’s Eilish McColgan, who beat Gidey over 10,000m in Hengelo earlier this month, is also in the line-up.
Following a promising debut at the distance in Eugene last month, two-time world indoor 1500m champion Samuel Tefera will contest the second 5000m race of his career. The 22-year-old Ethiopian clocked 13:06.86 at the Prefontaine Classic to finish second to Berihu Aregawi. While Aregawi is skipping Oslo, three other Ethiopians with sub-13-minute PBs are in the field: Getnet Wale, Telahun Haile Bekele and Milkesa Mengesha.
Olympic silver medallists Keely Hodgkinson and Laura Muir will race over two laps of the track. The British duo has raced each other just once before, Hodgkinson getting the verdict on that occasion at the national championships last year. The 20-year-old goes into this race as the fastest entrant too, having clocked a season’s best of 1:57.72 when winning in Eugene last month.
Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji, also aged just 20, goes into the race in good form too, having set a personal best of 1:58.28 for 800m and a season’s best of 3:59.19 for 1500m. Uganda’s world champion Halimah Nakaayi, Jamaica’s Natoya Goule, Britain’s Jemma Reekie and France’s Renelle Lamote will ensure the race is super competitive.