Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa delivered a masterclass performance on a cool and crisp evening in the Peruvian capital, shattering the championship record to successfully defend her 5000m title at the World Athletics U20 Championships.
Eisa’s winning time of 14:39.71 not only secured her second consecutive gold in this event but also carved more than 28 seconds off the previous championship record set by Genzebe Dibaba in 2010, marking a sensational start to the championships in Lima.
Eisa dominated from the outset, racing well ahead of her rivals alongside compatriot Mekedes Alemeshete. The Ethiopian duo quickly distanced themselves from the rest of the field, alternating the pace-setting duties and establishing an early lead.
They passed the 2000m mark in 5:58.59, already 40 meters ahead of the chasing pack. By 3000m, clocked at 8:57.28, their advantage had grown to 70 meters, cementing Ethiopia’s dominance in the race.
With three and a half laps remaining, Eisa made a decisive move, breaking away from Alemeshete and further extending her lead. In a commanding display, she lapped most of the field, ensuring that the women’s 5000m gold stayed in Ethiopia for the eighth time in the last nine editions of the World U20 Championships.
“I’m very happy with this win and to achieve a championship record after the Olympics,” said Eisa, who had previously finished seventh in the 5000m event at the Paris Olympics. “I wanted to be a champion; I have wanted this for months.”
Alemeshete crossed the finish line in 14:57.44 to take the silver medal, while Uganda’s Charity Cherop clinched bronze with a personal best time of 15:25.02, completing a podium sweep for the East African nations.
In contrast to the women’s event, the men’s 5000m final was a closely contested battle, with several early surges proving ineffective. The race ultimately boiled down to a thrilling sprint finish, with seven athletes bunched together as they reached the final lap.
Kenya’s Andrew Kiptoo Alamisi surged ahead in the last turn, claiming victory in 13:41.14. He was followed closely by Ethiopia’s Abdisa Fayisa, who took silver in 13:41.56, and Uganda’s Keneth Kiprop, who captured bronze in 13:41.73.
The championships’ opening day also featured a strong performance in the mixed 4x400m relay, where Australia reigned supreme.
The team of Jordan Gilbert, Bella Pasquali, Jack Deguara, and Sophia Gregorevic set a new Oceanian record of 3:19.27, finishing comfortably ahead of Poland, who took silver in 3:20.44, and China, who claimed bronze with a 3:21.27 finish.
Eisa’s record-breaking run, combined with Ethiopia’s ongoing success in long-distance events, reaffirms the country’s status as a powerhouse in global athletics. As the World U20 Championships in Lima continue, all eyes will be on these young athletes to see what other remarkable feats they will achieve.
Source: World Athletics
