APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopia’s Berihu Aregawi has won in men’s 5000m with a world leading performance at the 2023 Lausanne Wanda Diamond League held Switzerland on Saturday.
Aregawi held off record-holder Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda to win the race in a new meeting record of 12:40.45.
His finishing mark – best world performance of the year in 5000m – is also sixth-fastest on the world all-time list, according to the sport’s governing body World Athletics (WA).
Cheptegei – who set the world 5000m record of 12:35.36 in Monaco in 2020 – finished second, clocking in 12:41.61.
“I am delighted to be here and to win against Joshua,” the Ethiopian runner told reporters after the race.
“It was a great atmosphere. I enjoyed this race. Thank you Lausanne,” he added.
Hagos Gebrehiwot won third in 12:49.80 while Tilahun Bekele (12:49.81) and Selemon Barega (13:00.20) finished Fourth and fifth, respectively.
Elsewhere in Lausanne Saturday, the Norwegian Olympic champion Jakob Ingebrigtsen won a nail biting 1500m clash with Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma, clocking a new meet record of 3:28.72.
Girma, a 3000m steeplechase record-holder, settled for second with a 3:29.51 finish, a new Ethiopian national record. The previous 3:29.91 record was set by Aman Wote almost a decade ago.
Britain’s Olympic bronze medalist Josh Kerr followed Ingebrigtsen and Lemecha to the finish in 3:29.64.
MG/APA