Tag Archives: Lamecha Girma

Athletics

Soufiane El Bakkali runs world leading time then collapses

Olympics 3,000m steeplechase champion Soufiane El Bakkali ran a in a meeting record and world leading time at the Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athletisme held on Sunday (5) in Rabat, Morocco.

El Bakhali who ended Kenya’s 25 years run of success in steeplechase in Tokyo, was at it again as he defeated for the first time the two time World champion Conseslus Kipruto as he also went ahead to once more defeat Olympic silver medallist Lamecha Girma from Ethiopia.

The 26 year-old took control of the race as he marked his strongest opponent at the moment as they chased each other with El Bakhali hitting the front down the back straight and during a pulsating final lap as he dipped under the exclusive club for the second time as he crushed the race meet record and running a world time of 7:58.28 and collapsed on the track in delight.

The 2019 World silver medallist and Ethiopian National record holder over the distance was forced to settle in second as he also ran the sub eight for the second time in 7:59.24 with his compatriot Hailemariyam Tegegn, who had kept in touch with the two leaders until the final lap, finishing in third place in a personal best of 8:06.29.

The 2016 Olympic champion Kipruto made a point on his comeback from injury as he finished in fourth place in 8:12.47, with Avinash Mukund Sable finishing fifth with an India National Record of 8:12.48.

Reigning Olympic Games 3,000m steeplechase bronze medallist, Benjamin Kigen and Africa junior 3,000m steeplechase champion Abraham Kibiwott finished in a disappointing eighth and ninth place in a time of 8:17.32 and 8:18.78 respectively.

Athletics

Conseslus Kipruto to battle Bakkali and Girma in Rabat

Former Olympic Games 3,000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto will be up against Olympic 3,000m steeplechase champion Soufiane El Bakkali at the Rabat Diamond League that will be held on Sunday (5) in Rabat, Morocco.

The 27 year-old who is also a two time World champion will face the inform Bakhali and the Olympic silver medalist Lamecha Girma who ran last week a world leading, Ethiopian National record and the twelfth fastest all-times of 7:58.68.

Kipruto who missed the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games in Japan through injury, made his debut this season at the Athletics Kenya Athletics Kenya National track and field championships in April, will also be making his season debut in Rabat and will have an uphill task as he faces his two main rivals whom he beat at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha, where he clocked 8:01.35 to narrowly beat Girma who came second in 8:01.36 with Morocco’s El Bakkali closing the podium in 8:03.76.

El Bakhali who ended Kenya’s 25 years run of success in steeplechase in Tokyo, will be hoping to shine at home as he comes to this race with the fastest time on paper of 7:58.15, followed by Girma with Kipruto missing on the exclusive sub 8 club with a life time best of 8:00.12.

Tokyo Olympic Games bronze medallist Benjamin Kigen, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games bronze medallist, Mekhissi Mahediene from France and the 2018 Commonwealth Games champion, Abraham Kibiwott have also been line up to fight for the top honors.

Athletics

Where to Watch the Ostrava Golden Spike

Watch the live show that includes, Barnabas Kipyego, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, Collins Kipruto,  at the Ostrava Golden Spike which is a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold level meeting that will be held on Tuesday (31) in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

The pre-meeting starts at 14.00 Central European Time (GMT) while the main international program starts at 17:00 CEST.

Ostrava Golden Spike 2022 will be streamed live in a number of countries around the World on the World Athletics YouTube channel and different TV stations.

coverage, while others will show the meeting live. Please check your local listings to find out more information.

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Athletics

Barnabas Kipyego to battle Lamecha Girma in Ostrava

The 2014 Junior World Champion, Barnabas Kipyego will be the man to watch in the 3000m steeplechase race at the Ostrava Golden Spike which is a World Athletics Continental Tour Gold level meeting that will be held on Tuesday (31) in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

The 26 year-old comes to this race with a life time of 8:09.13 that he got in 2016 at Monaco Herculis meeting where he took the bronze medal.

Kipyego will not have an easy time as he will battle the Tokyo Olympic silver medallist Lamecha Girma who finished behind the only Olympic and world champion Conseslus Kipruto. The three time silver medallist, who has been in great shape this season, holds the fastest time on paper of 8:01.36 that he got at the Doha World championships. This time is also the Ethiopian National record.

The 2018 Mediterranean Games bronze medallist, Ahmed Abdelwahed and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games 2000m steeplechase champion, Abrham Sime will also be on the start line up as they both come to this race with life time best of 8:12.04 and 8:12.11 respectively.

Czech Republic will be represented by Jáchym Kovář and Damián Vích both coming with personal bests of 8:40.40 and 8:44.63.

The meet record of 8:02.55 is held by Paul Kipsiele Koech from Kenya.

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Athletics

Daniel Komen’s record remains standing in Lievin

Ethiopia’s trio of Getnet Wale, Selemon Barega and Lamecha Girma failed to live to the expectation of lowering the world 3000m record at the at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais that will be held on Thursday (17) in Lievin, France.

Wale was billed as the most favorite to chase the record after running the second-fastest indoor run in history of 7:24.98 which was just 0.08 shy of Daniel Komen’s long-standing world indoor record of 24 years. The record seems to be a tall ordre and remains standing.

World and Olympic 3000m steeplechase silver medallist Lemecha Girma was the star of the day as he led an Ethiopian 1-2-3 podium finish as he beat the reigning Olympic 10000m champion Barega.

The 21 year-old was too swift as he held Barega and the 2016 World U20 bronze medallist, Getnet Wale. He pulled away from them with a fire kick crossing the finish line 7:30.54 with Barega coming in second in 7:30.66. Wale closed the podium three finishes when he clocked 7:36.62.

Another Ethiopian Birhanu Balew finished fourth with a personal best of 7:31.77. Andreas Almgren improved the Swedish indoor record to 7:34.31 beating Jacob Krop from Kenya to fifth in 7:34.67 and Mohamed Katir from Spain finished in sixth in 7:36.62.

Athletics

Daniel Komen’s World Record under threat in Lievin

Ethiopia’s trio of Getnet Wale, Selemon Barega and Lamecha Girma will be after the world 3000m record as they line up at the at the Meeting Hauts-de-France Pas-de-Calais that will be held on Thursday (17) in Lievin, France.

Wale came out on top at the 2020 edition when he won the race with the second-fastest indoor run in history of 7:24.98 and just 0.08 shy of Daniel Komen’s long-standing world indoor record of 24 years.

Barega who is the World indoor silver medallist moved to third place on the world indoor all-time list with his performance in Lievin last year, where he clocked 7:26.10 finishing second behind Wale

Daniel Komen became the protagonist of one of the most monstrous records of the world athletic scene, namely that of 3000 floors. Photo: Canada Running Series

The 21 years-old went on to win the Olympic 10,000m title while Girma won the silver in the 3000m steeplechase in Tokyo.

Six men had bettered 7:30 for 3000m indoors. Now the figure stands at 10, with the fourth-place finisher in last year’s edition, Berihu Aregawi, also dipping under the mark with 7:29.24.

Spanish multiple record holder in 1500m (3:28.76), 3000m (7:27.64) and 5000m (12:50.79) will also be on the start list and he will be targeting to break the European record of 7:30.82 set last week by compatriot Adel Mechaal.

Kenyan duo Nicholas Kimeli, Jacob Krop and Ethiopia’s Nibret Melak, Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew will also be on the start list.

Pace makers have been asked to cover the first 1000m in 2:28.5 before reaching 2000m in 4:57, with the expected finish time close to 7:25.

Athletics

Benjamin Kigen to battle Soufiane EL Bakkali and Lamecha Girma in Zürich

Fresh from winning the 3,000m steeplechase bronze medal at the concluded Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan, Benjamin Kigen will be lining up at the Zurich Diamond League on Thursday (9).

The Africa 3,000m steeplechase champion led Kenya’s podium sweep at the Paris Diamond League almost two weeks ago lines up in search of water and barriers points.

The 28 year-old ran with a world lead at the Paris meeting with 8.07.12 will square it out with the Tokyo Olympic champion Soufiane EL Bakkali who has a season best of 8:08.54 which is the fourth fastest time on paper in this race.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and World silver medallist Lamecha Girma has also been rolled in to battle for the finals. Girma pushed Rio gold medallist to the wire at the World champion and he is a man on the mission as his pace and motion dictates as he always tackles the barriers. The Ethiopian has the second fastest time behind Kigen in this race and he is a man to watch.

Commonwealth Games 3,000m steeplechase silver medalist Abraham Kibiwot, who was second behind Kigen in Paris will be fighting for a podium slot with his 8:07.75 which is the third fastest time.

Ethiopia will be represented by Tadese Takele and Getnet Wale both coming with a season best of 8:09.37 and 8:09.47 respectively.

Another Kenyan Leonard Kipkemoi Bett who took bronze in Paris is also in the list as well as Mohamed Tindouft from Morocco who has a SB of 8:11.65.

Others who have been included are Ahmed Abdelwahed (8:12.04) from Italy, United States Hillary Bor (8:14.69) and Kenya’s Wilberforce Chemiat Kones (8:21.42).

LEADING TIME

3000m STEEPLECAHSE

  1. Benjamin Kigen          (KEN) 8:07.12
  2. Lamecha Girma          (ETH) 8:07.75
  3. Abraham Kibiwott      (KEN) 8:07.81
  4. Soufiane EL Bakkali   (MOR) 8:08.54
  5. Tadese Takele             (ETH)8:09.37
  6. Getnet Wale                (ETH) 8:09.47
  7. Leonard i Bett             (KEN) 8:10.21
  8. Mohamed Tindouft    (MOR) 8:11.65
  9. Ahmed Abdelwahed   (ITL) 8:12.04
  10. Hillary Bor                   (USA) 8:14.69
  11. Wilberforce Kones     (KEN) 8:21.42

 

Athletics

Battle of the Titans in Paris as Conseslus Kipruto faces Soufiane El Bakkali

World 3000m steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto will square it out with the Tokyo Olympic champion, Soufiane El Bakkali from Morocco at the Paris Diamond League Meeting that will be held on Saturday (28) at the Stade Charlety in Paris.

El Bakkali, who in Tokyo became the first non-Kenyan to win the men’s Olympic 3000m steeplechase title since Poland’s Bronislaw Malinowski at the 1980 Moscow Games – which Kenya boycotted – will be favourite on paper to record another victory in Paris.

The Moroccan will have to battle with his most fierce opponent the Rio 2016 Games gold medallist and double world champion Kipruto, who dropped out of the Kenyan Olympic trials after two laps following an injury that has been toll on him.

Despite Kipruto’s outstanding success in major championships, El Bakkali is the fastest runner in the field with a best of 7:58.15. Kipruto, surprisingly, has never bettered 8 minutes, with a best of 8:00.12.

Lamecha Girma will be the Ethiopia’s hope as he carries his personal best of 8:01.36 that he got at the 2019 World Athletics Championships, where he won the silver medal and set the new Ethiopian national record.

Athletics

Soufiane El Bakkali ends Kenya’s 25 years run of success in steeplechase

Kenya’s phenomenal run of success in the Olympic men’s 3,000m steeplechase came to an end as Soufiane El Bakkali won gold on day 10 of Tokyo 2020.

The 25-year-old clocked eight minutes 8.90 seconds to beat Ethiopia’s Lamecha Girma and Kenya’s Benjamin Kigen and win Morocco’s first medal in Tokyo.

Kenyans have won the event at every Games they have competed at since 1968.

“I am so used to seeing Kenyans win, it’s a big accomplishment for me,” said a delighted El Bakkali.

“I have been aiming for this for years and this was my opportunity to show that Morocco is capable of winning this prize.

“It was not easy for me to be in front of the Kenyans and Ethiopians. I know how hard it is to be first in front of them.”

Girma, a late call-up to the Ethiopian team, won silver in 8:10.38 with Kigen (8:11.45) claiming bronze and his nation’s first medal in Tokyo.