HENGELO, NETHERLANDS, June 08—Running on the same track where Sifan Hassan had set the women’s 10,000 World Record just 2 days earlier, Letesenbet Gidey delivered a stunning response at the Ethiopian Trials by running the distance in 29:01.03 for another all-time best.
Helped by Wavelight technology just as Hassan was, the 23-year-old Gidey passed halfway in 14:42.2 and closed in 14:18.8. She had stayed on the steady 2:55 per K pace the lights provided for the first 8K, then followed it as it sped up for a ninth kilo of 2:49.6. Her final K took 2:44.0 and she didn’t pass the technology until her final lap in 61.9.
With agent Jos Hermens frantically urging lapped runners to move out of lane 1, Gidey sliced 5.79 seconds off Hassan’s mark and some 80 seconds off her PR (see chart). Second went to Tsigie Gebreselama in a PR 30:06.01. On a day where PRs were commonplace, the first 11 notched all-time lows.
“What a special night,” Gidey said. “I am so proud that after the 5000 World Record [in Valencia last fall] I am now the 10,000 World Recordholder as well. In this Olympic year it is the perfect preparation. I expected to run the World Record. Next I will try again, to run maybe 28:56.”
Gidey is the first to hold both the 5K and 10K marks since Norway’s Ingrid Kristiansen did it in ’93.
Perfect racing conditions — with perhaps just a little nudge from high-tech shoes — helped create other stunning performances, including 6 yearly world leaders.
Getnet Wale took the men’s 5000 in 12:53.28 WL as three broke 13:00. Reigning world champ Muktar Edris finished an apparent non-qualifying 4th in 13:04.69.
The women’s 5 was even more impressive, as Gudaf Tsegay (14:13.32) led Ejgayehu Taye (14:14.09) and Senbere Teferi (14:15.24) to spots 5-6-7 in the all-time top 10—a compilation that now has Ethiopians in the top 8 positions.
Freeweyni Hailu took the 1500 (3:57.33 WL), Werkwuha Getachew the 800 (1:56.67 WL) and Mekides Abebe the steeple (9:13.63).
The men’s steeple went to Junior Takele Bikila Tadese (8:09.37 WL). In the men’s 10, Selemon Barega outkicked indoor mile WR recordholder Yomif Kejelcha, 26:49.51–26:49.73, with Berihu Aregawi at 26:50.37.
The other men’s winners were Teddese Lemi (3:31.90) and Abrham Sime (8:12.11).
ETHIOPIAN TRIALS MEN’S RESULTS
800: 1. Elhassane Moujahid (Mor) 1:46.28 PR; 2. Bacha Morka 1:46.39 PR; 3. Temam Tura 1:46.50.
1500: 1. Teddese Lemi 3:31.90 PR; 2. Samuel Abate 3:32.80 PR; 3. Samuel Tefera 3:33.06; 4. Melese Nberet 3:33.55 PR; 5. Melkeneh Azeze 3:33.74 PR; 6. Wegene Addisu 3:34.2 PR 1; 7. Anass Essayi (Mor) 3:34.58 PR; 8. Mohamed Al Garni (Qat) 3:37.28.
St: 1. Takele Bikila Tadese 8:09.37 PR (WL, WJL);
2. Abraham Seme 8:12.11 PR; 3. Hailemariyam Amare 8:21.15; 4. Samuel Frew 8:23.62 PR; 5. Tegenu Mengistu 8:28.33 PR; 6. Mohamed Ismail (Dji) 8:28.96.
5000: 1. Getnet Wale 12:53.28 PR (WL);
2. Nibret Melak 12:54.22 PR; 3. Milkesa Mengesha 12:58.28 PR; 4. Addisu Yehune 12:58.99 PR; 5. Muktar Edris 13:04.69; 6. Yasin Haji 13:05.62 PR; 7. Solomon Berihu 13:08.07; 8. Samwel Chepolei (Ken) 13:12.55 PR; 9. Ali Abdulmena 13:20.28 PR; 10. Gemechu Dida 13:20.89; 11. Samuel Habtom (Eri) 13:23.15 PR.
10,000: 1. Selemon Barega 26:49.51; 2. Yomif Kejelcha 26:49.73; 3. Berihu Aregawi 26:50.37 PR; 4. Hagos Gebrhiwet 26:57.16; 5. Tadese Worku 26:58.30 PR; 6. Daniel Mateiko (Ken) 27:03.94 PR; 7. Timothy Kosgei (Ken) 27:17.41 PR; 8. Stephen Kissa (Uga) 27:26.46 PR; 9. Abrar Osman (Eri) 27:37.16 PR; 10. Getaneh Molla 27:44.61 PR; 11. Antenayeh Dagnachew 27:49.41 PR; 12. Tamirat Tola 27:54.95 PR.
ETHIOPIAN TRIALS WOMEN’S RESULTS
800: 1. Werkwuha Getachew 1:56.67 PR (WL);
2. Habitam Alemu 1:58.16; 3. Werknesh Mesele 1:58.71 PR; 4. Netsanet Desta 1:59.39 PR; 5. Mahelet Mulugeta 2:02.21.
1500: 1. Freweyni Hailu 3:57.33 PR (WL);
2. Diribe Welteji 3:58.93 PR; 3. Lemlem Hailu 4:00.35 PR; 4. Tigist Ketema 4:00.91 PR; 5. Hirut Meshesha 4:02.79 PR; 6. Judith Kiyeng (Ken) 4:05.29.
St: 1. Mekides Abebe Demewoz 9:13.63; 2. Lomi Muleta Tefera 9:14.03 PR; 3. Zerfe Wondmagegn 9:16.95 PR; 4. Agrie Belachew 9:27.83 PR; 5. Peruth Chemutai (Uga) 9:33.74; 6. Birtukan Adamu 9:39.91; 7. Birhanu Gebregiorgis 9:42.27 PR; 8. Asmarech Naga 9:49.29.
5000: 1. Gudaf Tsegay 14:13.32 PR (WL) (5, 5 W); 2. Ejgayehu Taye 14:14.09 PR (6, 6 W); 3. Senbere Teferi 14:15.24 PR (7, 8 W);
4. Fantu Worku 14:29.63 PR; 5. Meskerem Mamo 14:36.89 PR; 6. Fantaye Belayneh 14:44.51 PR; 7. Hawi Feysa 14:45.19; 8. Mizan Alem 14:46.20 PR; 9. Rahel Daniel (Eri) 14:55.56 NR; 10. Medina Eisa 14:59.53 PR; 11. Prisca Chesang (Uga) 15:05.39 PR; 12. Etagegne Woldu 15:08.79 PR.
10,000: 1. Letesenbet Gidey 29:01.03 WR (old WR 29:06.82 Sifan Hassan [Neth] ’21);
2. Tsige Gebreselama 30:06.01 PR; 3. Tsehay Gemechu 30:19.29 PR; 4. Yalemzerf Yehualaw 30:20.77 PR; 5. Bosena Mulate 31:01.54 PR; 6. Francine Niyonsaba (Brn) 31:08.51 NR; 7. Sutume Asefa 31:09.56 PR; 8. Dolshi Tesfu (Eri) 31:12.86 PR; 9. Kidsan Alema 31:35.20 PR; 10. Asnakech Awoke 31:39.67 PR; 11. Medhin Gebreslassie 31:56.57 PR; 12. Gete Alemayehu 32:19.51. ◻︎