Uganda’s Charity Cherop Wins Bronze as Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa Smashes 5000m Championship Record in Lima

Uganda’s Charity Cherop has won a bronze medal in the women’s 5000m at the World Athletics U20 Championships Lima 24.

Cherop posted her New Personal Best 15:25.02.

On a cool, crisp evening in the Peruvian capital on Tuesday (27), Ethiopia’s Medina Eisa turned up the heat on her rivals to successfully defend her 5000m title.

Eisa’s winning time of 14:39.71 carved more than 28 seconds off the championship record set by Genzebe Dibaba, which had stood since 2010, and brought her home well clear of her compatriot Mekedes Alemeshete.

The two broke away from the field from the outset and alternated pace-setting duties, passing 2000m in 5:58.59 with a 40-metre lead.

By 3000m, reached in 8:57.28, they’d built a 70-metre lead and from there it only extended, with Eisa breaking clear of her compatriot with three and a half laps to run and lapping most of the field to hand women’s 5000m gold to Ethiopia for the eighth time in the last nine editions.

“I’m very happy with this win and to achieve a championship record after the Olympics,” said Eisa, who finished seventh in the 5000m in Paris.

“I wanted to be a champion, I have wanted this for months.”

Alemeshete followed her home in 14:57.44, with Uganda’s Charity Cherop getting bronze in a PB of 15:25.02.

Source: World Athletics