Ethiopia’s Tsigie Gebreselama shattered the US all-comers’ record in the women’s 10,000m, showcasing an extraordinary performance at The TEN, a World Athletics Continental Tour Silver event in San Juan Capistrano, California.
On the same day, Grant Fisher emerged victorious in a highly competitive men’s race, making the event a memorable occasion for athletes and spectators alike.
The day was particularly significant as numerous athletes aimed to meet the Olympic standards for Paris, set at 27:00.00 for men and 30:40.00 for women.
The competition did not disappoint, with eight men and four women achieving these ambitious benchmarks. Gebreselama, a world cross country silver medalist, led the charge in the women’s race, clocking an impressive 29:48.34.
This not only improved her personal best but also propelled her to ninth on the world all-time list.
Gebreselama’s victory came just three weeks after winning the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon with a personal best of 1:05:14.
Her triumphant return to the track saw her breaking the 30-minute barrier for the 10,000m for the first time, a feat never before achieved on US soil by a woman. Initially accompanied by the USA’s Alicia Monson, Gebreselama took the lead after Monson could not sustain the pace, eventually dropping out of the race.
Kelati becomes local heroe
In the battle for the Olympic standard, USA’s Weini Kelati secured second place with a personal best of 30:33.82, followed by Lauren Ryan, who set a new Australian record of 30:35.66, surpassing Benita Willis’s 20-year-old record.
Britain’s Megan Keith made a remarkable debut in the 10,000m, finishing fourth with a time of 30:36.84.
The men’s race was equally thrilling, with North American record-holder Fisher taking the lead in the final stages to win in 26:52.04. He was closely followed by 21-year-old US compatriot Nico Young, who set a US collegiate record of 26:52.72.
The race was historic, featuring one of the deepest fields in the 10,000m event, with the next six finishers also dipping under the Olympic entry standard.
Andreas Almgren of Sweden claimed third place with a national record of 26:52.87, while Canada’s Mohammed Ahmed and Eritrea’s Habtom Samuel rounded out the top five with times of 26:53.01 and 26:53.84, respectively.
The event not only highlighted individual brilliance but also underscored the global nature of athletics, with records and personal bests being set across the board, setting the stage for an exciting Olympic season ahead.
PHOTO: X
