World U-20 Championships: Worku Leads Ethiopian 1-2 Sweep In 3000m Final

Ethiopia’s Tadese Worku has won the men’s 3000m gold medal at World Athletics U-20 Championships here in Nairobi.

His compatriot Ali Abdilmana won silver and Habton Ismail of Eritrea claimed bronze.

Worku clocked 7:42.09 to set a new championship record in a fast race that made Abdilmana also set a new personal best of 7:44.55.

Kenya’s representatives Daniel Kinyanjui and Bernard Yegon finished at seventh and ninth positions receptively in the race that replaced 10,000m at junior championships.

Worku surged forward past Abdilmana and Ismailat the sound of the bell and held on for a first medal at a global championship.

On his part, Abdilmana started rather sluggishly and at one point seemed to be running out of steam as all the other runners put on the nitro-burners in the fifth lap.

However, he summoned all his strength to push past Ismail and Merhawi Mebrahtu in the last lap, ensuring Ethiopia scooped two medals.

Elsewhere, Nigeria scooped gold in 4x400m mixed relay in anew championship record of 3:19.70 with Poland taking silver in a seasonal best of 3:19.80 while India took bronze in 3:20.60.

Kenya had been disqualified for lane infringement despite finishing second in their heat to qualify for the final.

Photo Credit: Madgoat TV