IAAF Diamond League: World leads for Ethiopia’s Kejelcha & Aman in Rome

Rome, Italy – Yomif Kejelcha, amazingly still only 17, became the first runner to run faster than 13 minutes in the 5000m this year when he beat a strong field to win in 12:58.39 at the IAAF Diamond League meeting here today.

Kejelcha came through the pack down the home straight to take more than 12 seconds off his best, set when winning at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Eugene last Friday, just edging out Kenya’s Paul Tanui, who had towed the field through much of the second half of the race before finishing second in a personal best of 12:58.69.

In an entertaining race, particularly over the last two laps with no fewer than eight runner seriously in contention, another three ran faster than 13 minutes in a mass finish. Doha 3000m winner Hagos Gebrhiwet finished third in 12:58.69, his Ethiopian compatriot Imane Merga clocked 12:59.04 in fourth and Kenya’s Thomas Longosiwa came home fifth in 12:59.78.

Earlier, there was another Ethiopian victory, with world 800m champion Mohammed Aman winning over two laps of the track in a world-leading 1:43.56.

After a 50.42 first lap by pacemaker Bram Som, Pierre-Ambroise Bosse took pole position when the Dutchman dropped out shortly after the bell.

Bosse still had the edge coming off the bend and into the home straight but was clearly starting to struggle as the majority of the field came past him.

In front over the final 70 metres was Aman who successfully held off Nijel Amos, the fastest man in the world over two laps of the track last year, who finished second in 1:43.80.

Read more at: IAAF.org