Diribe, Lamecha Win Silvers for Ethiopia at World Athletics Championships
Diribe Welteji won silver in the women’s 1500m final as Lamecha Girma took silver in the men’s 3000m steeplechase at the world athletics championships.
The women’s 1500m final was held first followed by the men’s steeplechase in the last track finals of the night at Budapest
The 21-year-old Diribe was just behind Kenya’s Faith Kipyegon who controlled the race from the front the entire time. Sifan Hassan stayed at the back of the pack and only made her presence felt on the final lap.
But the world record holder Kipyegon held off all of them, charging ahead to win in 3:54.87. Diribe held on for silver (3:55.69) and Hassan took bronze (3:56.00).
The other Ethiopian runner Birke Haylom who is just 17 years old finished 9th, clocking 4:01.51.
The day’s action at Budapest 23 wrapped up with the men’s 3000m steeplechase. The event saw the defending champion Soufiane El Bakkali and world record-holder Lamecha Girma compete.
The Moroccan held off the challenge of the Ethiopian to win his third consecutive global title, crossing the line in 8:03.53.
Lamecha, meanwhile, earned his fifth global silver medal, placing second in 8:05.44. Kenya’s Abraham Kibiwott was a distant third to take bronze in 8:11.98.
