Ejegayehu left Letesenbet to second place on opening night in Eugene

On an evening of touted world record attempts at the Prefontaine Classic, none actually materialized, though Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye turned in worthy efforts, clocking 14:12.98 for 5000m to go fifth on the all-time list.
The women’s 5000m produced, as expected, a blazing performance from an Ethiopian, but it was not world record-holder Letesenbet who proved strongest but her compatriot Ejegayehu, who powered away over the final two laps to clock a meeting record and world lead of 14:12.98, which puts her fifth on the world all-time list.
The touted world record attempt by Letesenbet appeared on track after she reached 3000m in 8:32.07, but it was clear when she hit 4000m in 11:24.38 that the 14:06.62 mark she ran in October 2020 was safe for another night.
Letesenbet’s pace fell well behind the pace lights on the penultimate lap and Ejegayehu blew by her, the world indoor 3000m bronze medalist taking two seconds off her PB when hitting the line in splendid isolation. Letesenbet finished a distant second in 14:24.59 with Eritrea’s Rahel Daniel third in a national record of 14:36.66.