Ethiopians breeze to victories in various athletics events over the weekend
Addis Ababa, June 5, 2023 (FBC) – Ethiopians dominated the 2023 adidas Stockholm Marathon, a World Athletics Label Road Race event, that took place on Saturday, 3 June, as Ashenafi Moges and Sifan Melaku running away with the respective individual international titles.
On the men’s race, Ashenafi Moges broke away late to win with a time of 2:10:32, pulling away from his countryman Derara Hurisa (Ethiopia), who finished second in a time 2:11:01 ahead of Tsegaye Mekonnen (Ethiopia), who ran 2:12:32 for third place.
On the women’s side, Ethiopian athletes swept the competition with Sifan Melaku running 2:30:39 for the victory. Her compatriot Sorome Negash (Ethiopia) clocked 02:33:26 for second place with Yenenesh Dinkesa (Ethiopia) getting third in 2:36:39.
In Florence Diamond League, Ethiopia’s Sembo Alemayehu won the women’s 3000m steeplechase race, setting a new standard for the season. She ran away from a high-class field to win in 9:00.71 from world U20 champion Jackline Chepkoech of Kenya (9:02.43) and fellow Ethiopian Zerfe Wondemagegn (9:04.61).
Meanwhile, Kasanesh Bazzie has won the women’s half marathon in Albacete, Spain, clocking 1:10:07. Her compatriots Andualem Taddese and Addisalem Belay finished the race 4th and 5th, respectively.
Athlete Bekelech Woreyo also took the 3rd spot in the Nelson Mandela Bay Half Marathon race in South Africa, clocking 1:09:03.