Yomif Kejelcha wins the 10,000m in Nerja (© Sportmedia)
Yomif Kejelcha took a thrilling narrow win at the Ethiopian 10,000m Olympic trials held on Friday (14) night in Nerja, Spain.
The 26-year-old smashed his lifetime best by 18 seconds to clock a world-leading 26:31.01 after an incredibly tight sprint with Berihu Aregawi, who also improved his career best to 26:31.13. The third spot on Ethiopia’s team for Paris went to Olympic champion Selemon Barega, who was timed at 26:34.93.
In one of the highest quality 10,000m races ever, four men finished inside 26:40 and six men finished inside 26:50 for the first time. 17-year-old Biniam Mehary placed fourth in a world U20 record of 26:37.93, taking four seconds off the previous mark set 19 years ago by the late Samuel Wanjiru.
On an mild (21C) windless night and in a race with good pacemaking, Aregawi, Kejelcha, Barega and Mehari went through the halfway mark in 13:17. One kilometre later, the last pacemaker dropped out of the race and from then on the world 5km record-holder Aregawi pushed hard, trying to leave his rivals behind, but only the young Mehari lost ground in the ninth kilometre.
Shortly after reaching the bell, Barega began to fade and the event became a two-way showdown between Aregawi and Kejelcha. The latter tried to overtake his compatriot on the final bend, but Aregawi managed to hold off his first attack; Kejelcha never surrendered and finally he edged ahead of Aregawi just 30 metres before the finish line.
In the women’s race, Fotyen Tesfay took an impressive victory in 29:47.71, putting her just outside the top 10 on the world all-time list. 2023 world cross-country silver medallist Tsigie Gebreselama was second in 29:49:33, ahead of world bronze medallist Ejgayehu Taye (29:50:52), who also set a lifetime best.
Emeterio Valiente for World Athletics
