“We came to Belgrade aiming to make history for Ethiopia,” So said Selemon Barega and indeed they did.
The Ethiopian domination of the men’s 3000m continued with an eighth gold and a second successive 1-2 in the event, Selemon Barega emerging victorious from a last-lap sprint with compatriot Lamecha Girma in the final morning session at the World Athletics Indoor Championships Belgrade 22. Four years ago in Birmingham in 2018, Barega had to settle for silver behind Yomif Kejelcha but that was when he was an 18-year-old junior still learning his craft. Four years on, with an Olympic 10,000m gold and world 5000m silver back home, the 22-year-old had too much strength and speed when Girma attempted to launch an attack on the back straight of the final lap, crossing the line 0.25 clear in 7:41.38.
It was a slow burner of a contest, Barega moving to the front after the opening lap and leading the field to 800m in 2:04.20. At that point, however, he was content to drift back as Kenyans Daniel Ebenyo and Jacob Krop assumed the lead but without ever threatening to make a decisive break. At the bell Barega was back in front with six others still in the hunt but none of them could match him – even Girma, who had got the better of him earlier in the season in Lievin and Torun. “I have had a good season, so I was ready both physically and mentally to fight for gold. With Girma we discussed the possibility of helping each other make the podium. Our tactic has paid off. It was a tough race in which we were focused mostly on the Kenyan guys,” Barega said. “I decided to lead the race from the beginning because many runners in this final are 1500m specialists. I just wanted to make the pace fast and comfortable. Then I slowed down to save some energy for the finishing kick. It was a good plan and another great experience for me.” And so the Ethiopian with the awesome range found himself emulating his celebrated compatriots Haile Gebreslassie and Kenenisa Bekele as an Olympic champion at 10,000m and a world indoor winner at 3000m.
Ethiopia also won Gold and Bronze medals in the women’s 3000m title on the first day of the world indoor track and field championships in Belgrade, Serbia. Athlete Lemlem Hailu finished the women’s 3000m with a composed performance crossing the line in 8:41.82, according to Athletics World. Lemlem sealed a memorable win – her first global medal as a senior athlete. Her victory meant the title came home for the ninth time in the last 10 editions. Her compatriot Ejgayehu Taye also finished third to win bronze for Ethiopia in 8:42.23.
