Zersenay Tadesse's brother, Kidane smashes his 10,000m personal best
Zersenay Tadesse, Younger Brother of Zeresenay Tadesse
Neerpelt, Belgium - In a sprint finish Ethiopia’s Sofia Assefa convincingly held off a class field in the 3000m Steeplechase at the Night of the Euregion in Neerpelt. Behind the Ethiopian’s win national records for Germany, Portugal, Italy and the Netherlands were set in the event as 7 athletes finished inside 9:40.
The 21-year-old Kidane Tadesse from Eritrea smashed his 10,000m personal best by almost three minutes when he crossed the line in 27:06.16 to beat the favourite Josphat Kiprono Menjo from Kenya.
Four national records in one race
A compact field went into the last kilometre of the women’s 3000m Steeplechase, headed by the local Belgian favourite Veerle Dejaeghere. Gradually the speed was winding up and it was Assefa who won with a long sprint finish.
National records were set by Antje Möldner from Germany in her steeplechase debut, by Sara Moreira from Portugal, by Elena Romagnolo for Italy, and by Miranda Boonstra from the Netherlands.
In the men’s Steeplechase Reuben Kosgei from Kenya looked very much in control of the race but he was surprised in the finishing strenght of Nahom Mesfin. The Ethiopian won in 8:14.68.
Kidane Tadesse breaks through on the international 10,000m scene
A leading group of eight athletes passed the 5000m mark in 13:36. That was the sign for Josphat Kiprono Menjo to increase the pace and to spread the 10,000m race field apart. Only four stayed in the lead until Kidane Tadesse accelerated with 2000m to go. Kiprono Menjo was the only athlete to try and hang in on the devastating pace of Tadesse.
The 21-year-old Eritrean impressively maintained his effort until the finish line that he crossed in 27:06.16. No less than 15 athletes finished inside 28 minutes and making this a landmark 10,000m.
An Olympic 4 x 400m qualifying race was emphatically won by the team from Belgium in a national record of 3:02.51. Definitely the target of the Belgians is a spot in the Olympic final in Beijing in August.
Ivo Hendrix for the IAAF
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