Ethiopia

Kejelcha scores historic debut at Adizero Road to Records in Herzogenaurach

Ethiopian Yomif Kejelcha wins the men’s 5km in 12:53 – the fastest debut in history – at the 2022 Adizero Road to Records event in Herzogenaurach on Saturday.

ATAF Editors

Published

May 2, 2022

Gold Medallist, Yomif Kejelcha of Ethopia celebrates after the Mens 3000 Metres Final during the IAAF World Indoor Championships on Day Four at Arena Birmingham on March 4, 2018 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images for IAAF)

Two-time world indoor champion Yomif Kejelcha shone brightly at the Adizero Road to Records in Herzogenaurach, Germany on Saturday.

The Ethiopian claimed the men’s 5km in 12:53 – the fastest debut in history – and was just four seconds shy of the world record.

Kejelcha crossed the finish line two seconds ahead of Kenya’s Nicholas Kimeli, who was rewarded with a Kenyan record of 12:55, making it the first road 5km ever in which two men have broken 13 minutes.

Another Kenyan, Levy Kibet, finished in third place with 13:02. Further down the field, Italy’s Yemaneberhan Crippa set a European record of 13:14.

There was also record depth in the men’s 10km – won by Kibiwott Kandie in 26:50 – with five men finishing inside 27 minutes.

Kandie, as he so often does, timed his finish to perfection in the men’s 10km. The former world half marathon record-holder was part of a large lead group that passed through half way in 13:34.

Fellow Kenyan Sebastian Sawe was level with Kandie by the end of the third lap (7.5km), timed at 20:16 at that point, but Kandie unleashed his trademark finish to win in 26:50, taking one second off his PB and consolidating his position at No.4 on the world all-time list.

Sawe, who won the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon last month in 58:02, crossed the line in 26:54 to move to fifth on the world all-time list. Burundi’s Rodrigue Kwizera, winner of this year’s World Athletics Cross Country Tour, set a national record of 26:56 in third place.

World record-holder Rhonex Kipruto (26:56) and Ethiopian record-holder Tadese Worku (26:59) finished fourth and fifth respectively.

There was a close finish in the men’s half marathon, with Mathew Kimeli earning his first ever victory over the distance in 59:30 from fellow Kenyan and namesake (but no relation) Benard Kimeli.

Alfred Barkach of Kenya was third in 59:36 and Amos Kurgat made it a Kenyan 1-2-3-4 finish in 59:40.

Ethiopian runners dominated the women’s races. Senbere Teferi retained her 5km title, clocking 14:37 to win by 16 seconds from compatriot Medina Eisa, whose 14:53 clocking is a world U20 and U18 best.

Kenya’s 2013 world 5000m silver medallist Mercy Cherono was third in 14:56.