Eisa secures World U20 5000m crown with championship record in Lima – AthleticsAfrica
Home NewsAfricaEthiopia Eisa secures World U20 5000m crown with championship record in Lima

Eisa secures World U20 5000m crown with championship record in Lima

By Athletics Africa website logoATAF Editors
1 views 2 minutes read
Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa, 5000 Metres Women Gold medallist at 2024 World Athletics U20 Championships Lima, Peru / Photo credit: Enzo Santos Barreiro for World Athletics

At the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24, Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa successfully retained her 5000m crown, marking the standout performance of the opening day.

Eisa’s triumphant time of 14:39.71 shattered Genzebe Dibaba’s 2010 championship record by over 28 seconds, leaving her countrywoman Mekedes Alemeshete in second place.

The Ethiopian duo surged ahead from the start, taking turns to lead the pack. They passed the 2000m mark in 5:58.59, establishing a 40-metre advantage. By 3000m, clocked at 8:57.28, their lead had extended to 70 metres.

Eisa broke away from Alemeshete with three and a half laps remaining, lapping most competitors to secure Ethiopia’s eighth women’s 5000m gold in the past nine championships.

Mekedes Alemeshete finished second in 14:57.44, while Uganda’s Charity Cherop claimed bronze with a personal best of 15:25.02.

Eisa, who had finished seventh in the 5000m at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, expressed her joy, stating, “I’m very happy with this win and to achieve a championship record after the Olympics. I wanted to be a champion, I have wanted this for months.”

In contrast, the men’s 5000m unfolded differently. Early breakaway attempts proved futile, with the race culminating in a sprint finish as seven runners remained bunched together at the final lap.

On the last turn, Kenya’s Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi surged ahead, clinching victory in 13:41.14. Ethiopia’s Abdisa Fayisa (13:41.56) and Uganda’s Keneth Kiprop (13:41.73) secured second and third places, respectively.

Click to access the login or register cheese
Athletics Africa
Latest athletics and marathon news, images, videos, live events information and track and field results from the heart of Africa on mobile and web.