Selemon Barega wins the men’s 3000m race with a World Leading and Meeting Record at the Copernicus Cup on Tuesday 06, 2024 in Torun, Poland. Photo: World Athletics
Olympic 10000m champion Selemon Barega ran a World Leading time at the 10th edition of the Copernicus Cup held on Tuesday (07) in Torun, Poland.
The 24 year-old who is also the World Indoor 3000m champion, failed to break the world 3000m record but managed to set a new Meeting Record and personal best of 7:25.82.
Barega was followed by the 2019 Africa 3000m steeplechase silver medallist, Getnet Wale, who set the second fastest time in his career of 7:26.73 with the 2019 European U20 5000m bronze medallist, Darragh Mcelhinney of Ireland sealing the podium three finishes in 7:54.02.
“I expected a good performance here. My training has been going very well and I have good speed. I set a PB in the 1500m, so this is a fast track. The world record is possible, but it is sometimes easier to run behind another athlete,” said Barega.
The 2017 Africa Junior 800m bronze medallist, Adisu Girma of Ethiopia and Poland’s 5000m National champion, Aleksander Wiacek finishing in fourth and fifth in respective time of 8:03.35 and 8:04.15.
John Vaselyne is the founder of Athletics News. Africa’s only Independent Athletics News website. He has covered World U18 and U20 Championships, World Cross Country Championships, Four Continental Tour Gold Series, Wanda Diamond League. He has passion for the Sport and has over seven years experience in this area of sport. He is also the Leading Athletics Pundit in the Country, having been hosted in ALL leading TV stations in Kenya
