Hagos Gebrhiwet and Letesenbet Gidey Win Ethiopian 10,000-Meter Trials in World-Leading Times

By Adam Kopet

The Ethiopian 10,000-meter trials were held Wednesday in Hengelo, The Netherlands. Hagos Gebrhiwet and Letesenbet Gidey won the men's and women's races, respectively, running world-leading times.

RESULTS

Gebrhiwet made up for his miscount of laps in the Lausanne 5,000 meters with his 26:48.95. Selmon Barega finished second in 26:49.46 and Yomif Kejelcha finished third in 26:49.99.

All three men ran under the previous world-leading time of 26:50.16 set in May in Stockholm by Kenya's Rhonex Kipruto. All three will also represent Ethiopia at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships.

Before Wednesday, no athlete had ever run under 3:50 for the mile and run under 27:00 for 10,000 meters. Kejelcha has not only done that, but he has done so in the span of four months.

Until now, no other man has managed to run a sub-3:50 mile and a sub-27:00 10,000m in their entire career.

Yomif Kejelcha has now achieved that feat in the space of a little more than four months.

— Jon Mulkeen (@Statman_Jon) July 17, 2019

Further, as this race served as Kejelcha's 10,000-meter debut, it is the second-fastest debut behind Eliud Kipchoge who ran 26:49.02 in his first 10,000-meter race.

In all, six men ran under 27:00.

In the women's race, Gidey won in what was a demonstration of Ethiopia's depth. She prevailed in 30:37.89, leading eight other Ethiopians under 31:00. Including Turkey's Yasmin Can, 10 women broke 31:00.

Finishing behind Gidey for the World Championship team spots were Netsanet Gudeta and Senbere Teferi, running 30:40.85 and 30:45.14, respectively.

In all, four women improved on Emily Sisson's previous world-leading time of 30:49.57.