Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu has won women’s 3000m at the Czech Indoor Gala, a World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting setting a new record with a world-leading time of 8:24.17, according to Watch Athletics’ report.
After following the pacemaker through the 1000m mark in 2:52.08 and then clocking 5:45.8 for 2000m, Hailu picked up the pace over the final five laps.
Running 2:39 for the last kilometre, she crossed the finish line in 8:24.17 – a time that moves the Ethiopian 23-year-old to eighth on the world all-time list.
Portugal’s Salome Afonso, who had followed Hailu in the early stages, finished second in a PB of 8:39.25.
Kenya’s Purity Kajuju Gitonga, whose twin sister Caroline paced the race, was third in a PB of 8:39.36, while Great Britain’s 18-year-old Innes FitzGerald improved the European indoor U20 record by more than 10 seconds with her time of 8:40.05 to finish fourth.
“The pacemaker did a brilliant job tonight. I felt comfortable and it was easy to achieve my goal at this meeting,” said Hailu.
“With such a good season opener, I hope I will be able to complete our national team for the World Indoor Championships,” she added.
MG/as/APA