Addis Ababa, December 16, 2024 (FBC) — Ethiopian athlete Sutume Kebede secured a second successive Tata Steel Kolkata World 25K crown, a World Athletics Gold Label road race on Sunday (15).
Sutume recovered from a stomach issue just in time to defend her title. She set a stand-alone world 25km best of 1:18:47 to win last year’s race and this time clocked 1:19:21 to triumph ahead of Kenya’s Viola Chepngeno and Bahrain’s Desi Jisa.
Sutume was challenged by 2022 winner Jisa and Chpengeno, but after Chpengeno started to fade over the final couple of kilometres, Sutume became a clear leader after 23km.
Chepngeno finished second in 1:19:48, while Jisa finished a distant third in 1:21:33.
“I am very happy to win (here) again,” said Sutume Kebede. “I wanted to break the course record but was a little tired of travelling. I am training for the next year and will participate in marathons.”