Ethiopia’s Gudaf Tsegay won her first global outdoor gold medal after claiming the women’s 5,000m in a closely-run race at the World Athletics Championships in Oregon.
Tsegay won in a time of 14:46.29 ahead of Kenya’s Beatrice Chebet, who clocked a season best of 14:46.75, and compatriot Dawit Seyaum who secured bronze in 14:47.36.
The 25-year-old added the gold to the silver she won days earlier when she finished behind Kenya’s double world champion Faith Kipyegon in the 1,500m.
This 5,000m race was dominated by Ethiopia and Kenya who both locked out the top five spots with Kenyan Margaret Kipkemboi finishing fourth in 14:47.71 and world 10,000m champion Letesenbet Gidey placing fifth in 14:47.98.
There was more delight for Kenya in the men’s 800m as Emmanuel Korir claimed his first world title winning the race in a season’s best of 1:43.71.
Korir, the current Olympic champion, is the first Kenyan to win the title since world record-holder David Rudisha claimed his second world title in 2015.
Algeria’s Djamel Sedjat took silver crossing the line in 1:44.14 and became the first Algerian to win a world medal in the race since Djabir Said-Guerni won gold in the 2003 championships in Paris.
In the same race, 17-year-old Emmanuel Wanyonyi of Kenya, the world U20 champion, finished in fourth, narrowly missed out on making history by becoming the youngest men’s world 800m medallist.
As the World Athletics Championships draws to a close on Sunday, there will still be plenty of continental interest in the remaining disciplines.
Nigerian duo Ruth Usoro and Ese Brume will compete in the final of the women’s long jump while 5,000m record holder Joshua Cheptegei – who earlier won the men’s 10,000m – will hope to add the world 5,000m title to his Olympic gold medal in the men’s race.
Cheptegei, however, will be up against a highly competitive field featuring two-time defending champion Muktar Edris, and world silver medalists Selemon Barega and Yomif Kejelcha, all of Ethiopia. Also challenging for the world title will be Cheptegei’s compatriot Oscar Chelimo and Kenyans Nicholas Kipkorir, Jacob Krop and Daniel Ebenyo.
In the women’s 800m, Mary Moraa of Kenya and Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji will represent the continent while Botswana will hope to upset the odds in the men’s 4x400m men’s relay race.
(Story compiled with assistance from wire reports)
