Ethiopia’s Solomon Barega will return to the Prefontaine Classic to defend his two-mile title at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Stanford on 30 June.
Solomon, the 2016 world U20 champion, won the 2018 Diamond League 5000m title in 12:43.02, a time bettered only by the last three world record setters – two of whom ran before he was born.
Already this year, the 19-year-old has finished fifth at the World Cross Country Championships, first over 10,000m at the Ethiopian Championships and has recorded a season’s best of 12:53.04 for 5000m.
Olympic silver medallist Paul Chelimo finished second to Solomon in the two-mile race at last year’s Prefontaine Classic. He may have one eye on the North American best of 8:07.07 set by Matt Tegenkamp in 2007.
Asian champion Birhanu Balew was the only athlete to beat Solomon on the IAAF Diamond League circuit last year. The Bahraini runner, who finished third in this event at last year’s Pre Classic, will be looking to get the better of Solomon once again.
Abadi Hadis, the 2017 world cross-country bronze medalist, recently came close to his 5000m PB with 12:56.48 in Rome. The versatile Ethiopian also equaled his half marathon PB of 58:44 earlier this year.
Olympic bronze medalist Hagos Gebrhiwet will be contesting the distance for the first time. The Ethiopian has finished third over 5000m in Shanghai and Rome so far this year and second over 10,000m in Stockholm.
Getaneh Molla made headlines earlier this year when he won the Dubai Marathon in 2:03:34, the fastest debut marathon in history. The Ethiopian will be moving down in distance in Stanford.
In other Stanford-related news, world indoor record-holder Yomif Kejelcha has been added to the Bowerman Mile field.
Solomon Barega defends two-mile title in Stanford
Ethiopia Bunna takes tough stance against EFF
Ethiopian Football Federation’s face saving effort to resume the suspended league season failed to come true as Ethiopia Bunna rejected the move to play against visitors Mekele SebaEnderta behind closed doors. Back from Paris following a working visit along with his vice Colonel Awol Abdurakim and the General Secretary participating in FIFA annual congress, Essayas Jirra’s led cabinet faced the most bizarre situation in its three year tenure.
Following a four hour discussion with Ethiopia Bunna board and Supporters’ Association representatives at Capital Hotel, Issayas Jirra appeared in public announcing that he reached an agreement to resume the suspended match between hosts Ethiopia Bunna and visitors Mekele Town on Friday under a closed gate. “It all started at Mekele stadium and the match official denying the presence of a life size banner that condemns visitors Ethiopia Bunna. And I would like to apologize for what happened three months ago,” EFF President Essayas announced.
Despite showing a bravado effort to turn the long in-brewing storm in a face saving performance, Ethiopia Bunna with number of Premier League sides behind in huge support stood ground rejecting the decision to play in an empty stadium. “Why Ethiopia Bunna would face a harsh tribute despite committing no wrong doing,” alive and in a vigorous mood to lead war against the federation Board Chair Person Lieutenant Fekade Mamo told reporters earlier.
Immersed in a very critical situation the Federation is now swaying here and there seemingly looking for government interference to settle the matter. CAF has also demanded list of teams that will take part in next year Champions League and Confederation Cup participants earlier than 30th June therefore completion of the season by all means the only option.
In its latest announcement the much talked about Ethiopia Bunna versus Mekele Town showdown in Addis Ababa takes place on Tuesday.
Ethiopian Zeineba Yimer set Valencia course record
Ethiopia’s Zeineba Yimer Kenya’s Abel Kipchumba, were overwhelming winners at the Valencia 15km Banco Mediolanum, beating quality fields at the IAAF Bronze Label event.
Ethiopia’s Zeineba Yimer and Kenya’s Dorcas Jepchumba, both paced by Morocco’s Hassane Ahouchar, were the early leaders in the women’s race, which was held alongside the men’s event.
The opening and slightly uphill first 5km of 15:26 suggested that the top contenders could challenge the Spanish 15km all-comers’ record of 46:14 set by Florence Kiplagat en route to breaking the then world half marathon record in Barcelona four years ago.
However, the speed decreased in the following kilometers as the leaders covered the second 5km in 15:52, bringing them to 10km in 31:18. By then, the third-placed runner, Jebesa Zenebu Fikadu of Ethiopia, was some way behind the leaders with 32:45.
The key move came shortly after the 12th kilometre when – still paced by Ahouchar – Zeineba managed to break away from a tiring Kimeli and then upped her pace over the closing stages to finish inside 47 minutes with a course record of 46:52. Kimeli followed 40 seconds later while Fikadu secured the third spot in 49:15.
The 20-year-old victor is one of the 20 quickest ever women over the half marathon courtesy of her 1:05:46 career best set in Ras Al Khaimah last February to take third. More than 10,000 runners took part in the event.
Sentayehu Mengestu leads Super League goal hunt
Steering Wolkite Town to promotion Ahmed Hussein is the leading top scorer of the Super league followed by Sentayehu Mengestu of Arbaminch Town. Most of the teams in the league working on their defensive line and the Coaches’ plan more to splitting points in away matches than going for a win, critics suggested the goal draught manifests on how the current season was full o0f frustrations.
Little known Ahmed Hussein is said to be the most important player of Wolkite for he is a phenomenal striker who sometimes singlehandedly guide the side to a much important away win scoring goals out of the blue. “These days’ winning away match is almost an impossible task for any visitor side. But thanks to Ahmed who is capable of eyeing goal scoring chances and taking fast decisions once reaching the box, the team’s long awaited dream is on the verge of turning true,” a team mate revealed.
Ahmed rumored to join Wolayta Dicha in the coming new season and popular among fans for number of assists to team mates. Ahmed and strike partner Habetamu tadesse scored more than half of Wolkite Town’s total 41 goal tally out of which Ahmed scored 13.
Flourished under lately appointed Coach Mesay Teferi, Sentayehu Mengestu managed to score 12 goals to take the runner-up spot. Five players: Ethiopia Medin one target man Abduletif Murad, Woldiya Town’s Tesfaye Negash, Wolkite’s Habtamu Tadesse, Daniel Dawit of Nekemte Town and Sebeta’s deadly goal machine Natniel Ganchula are joint third each scoring 11 goals.
