Ladema wins bronze medal in men's 5,000m
What you need to know:
- Barega seemed to shove Ladema, who lost his balance as the Ethiopian cruised to victory in a personal best time of 13:21.21. Aron Kifle of Eritrea fell at the last bend.
- The results saw Kenya drop one place to fourth in the medal standings with six medals, three gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the end of the day’s activities.
- Ethiopia moved to third on 3-1-3 while USA remained on top of the medal standings with 6-5-2 followed by Cuba 3-2-0.
IN BYDGOSZCZ, POLAND
Kenya’s Wesley Ladema settled for bronze in the men’s 5,000m after failing to find a higher gear in the last 200m to let Ethiopia’s Selemon Barega claim the gold at the World Under-20 Championships on Saturday evening at Zawisza Stadium in Bydgoszcz.
Barega seemed to shove Ladema, who lost his balance as the Ethiopian cruised to victory in a personal best time of 13:21.21. Aron Kifle of Eritrea fell at the last bend.
Dire Jamal from Djibouti breezed past Ladema and Kifle, who had earlier on won silver in men’s 10,000m to claim silver in a national youth record time of 13:21.50.
Kifle and Ladema had some good exchange earlier on in the race.
PERSONAL BEST TIME
Ladema, the East and Central Africa Youth 5,000m champion eased home third in a personal best time of 13:23.34.
“It’s not the way I expected but I am happy for the bronze since this is my first major outing,” said Ladema. “All was well but Barega pushed me and I lost my balance.”
The results saw Kenya drop one place to fourth in the medal standings with six medals, three gold, one silver and two bronze medals at the end of the day’s activities.
Ethiopia moved to third on 3-1-3 while USA remained on top of the medal standings with 6-5-2 followed by Cuba 3-2-0.
Earlier World Youth 800m champion Willy Tarbei and World Youth 800m silver medallist Kipyegon Bett set up a possible 1-2 finish for Kenya in the 800m final that was due to be held yesterday evening.
The duo won their respective semi-finals with Tarbei, winning in a slow time of 1:48.28 while a speeding Bett wrapped up his race in the fastest time of the semis of 1:46.37.
