HERZOGENAURACH, Germany, April 29 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's Medina Eisa raced to a women's world U20 5km best of 14:46 at the Adizero Road to Records event here on Saturday.
The 18-year-old Eisa narrowly denied her compatriot Senbere Teferi a third consecutive women's 5km victory in Herzogenaurach. Teferi set the women-only world record of 14:29 at this event in 2021. The defending champion sprinted towards the finish line and raised her arms in anticipation, but Eisa had chased her down and made it to the tape first.
The Ethiopians ended with top five in the race. Girmawit Gebrzihair finished two seconds behind them, while Lemlem Nibret was fourth in 14:57 and Yalemget Yaregal fifth in 15:00.
Kenya's Sabastian Sawe moved to fifth on the men's world 10km all-time list. He turned the tables on last year's 10km winner Kibiwott Kandie to triumph in 26:49, improving his personal best by five seconds.
The Kenyans took the leading five in the race. Kandie finished 26:53 as runner-up. Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli was third in 26:54, world record-holder Rhonex Kipruto was fourth in 27:09 and Levy Kibet was fifth in 27:14.
Kenya's Irine Jepchumba Kimais claimed the top spot in the women's 10km in a PB of 30:23 as she held off the challenge from Ethiopia's Fotyen Tesfay (30:26) and Kenya's Agnes Jebet Ngetich (30:27).
Kenya's Janeth Chepngetich finished fourth in 30:28 and Ethiopia's 17-year-old Senayet Getachew set a world U20 best of 30:34 to finish fifth.
There was also a close finish in the men's 5km as Ethiopia's long-time leader Yomif Kejelcha was surprised by Bahrain's Birhanu Balew in the final strides and had to settle for second place.
Two-time world indoor 3,000m champion Kejelcha was running solo by 3km, but Balew stormed past Kejelcha at the finish to win in 13:06. Burundi's Rodrigue Kwizera was third in a national record of 13:11 on his 5km race debut.
The women's half marathon was won by Ethiopia's Bertukan Welde Sura. The 18-year-old, who finished fourth in the 3,000m at the World U20 Championships in Cali last year, won the race in 1:07:44 against her more experienced compatriots Nigsti Haftu and Dera Dida.
Another rising talent won the men's half marathon. The 20-year-old Ethiopian Tadese Takele surged away from his rivals over the final kilometer to win in 1:00:04, ahead of Kenya's Josphat Chumo and Roncer Kipkorir. ■
