Ethiopian Beriso Claims Victory in Women’s Marathon as Kenyan Contenders Struggle

Amane Beriso displayed a commanding performance to secure victory in the women’s marathon at the World Athletics Championships held on Saturday.

Despite contending with scorching morning conditions, Beriso surged ahead to claim a decisive lead over her compatriot, defending champion Gotytom Gebreslase.

The Ethiopian runners collaborated effectively, momentarily suggesting a potential clean sweep. However, Beriso, who had previously recorded the third-fastest marathon time in Valencia the previous December, seized the opportunity to establish a significant lead upon entering the final of four 10km laps. Her final time was an impressive 2:24.23.

Gebreslase secured the silver medal, clocking in at 2:24.34. Meanwhile, Fatima Gardadi made history for Morocco, securing their first-ever medal in the event with a bronze finish in 2:25.17, surpassing Ethiopia’s Yalemzerf Yehualaw in the process.

Regardless of the early start at 7 a.m. local time, the athletes confronted intense heat, which prompted a cautious pace in the initial stages. Eventually, a group of six runners broke away, and later the four Ethiopian athletes collaborated strategically to make their move during the final lap.

Beriso’s dominance grew even more pronounced as she extended her lead, creating a 20-meter gap between herself and Yehualaw. Gebreslase managed to regain momentum and secured the second position, while Yehualaw’s energy waned, allowing Gardadi to advance.

However, neither Gebreslase nor Gardadi managed to close the gap on Beriso’s impressive lead, and she emerged as the remarkable winner of the event.

Lonah Chemptai Salpeter from Israel secured fourth place at 2:25.38, and Yehualaw concluded the race in fifth place, finishing in 2:26.13.

This victory marks a triumphant culmination of a remarkable nine months for Beriso. In the recent Valencia event, the 31-year-old shattered her personal best, achieving a time of 2:14.58, making it the third-fastest in history. She also secured a second-place finish in the Boston Marathon held in April.

Reflecting on her achievement, Beriso stated, “Our collaborative effort as a team contributed to our success today. We managed to narrow down the lead group to six runners and then proceeded to break away with a team of four. This strategy was devised due to the highly competitive field. Although we didn’t achieve our goal of securing all three medals, we’re content with our gold and silver. It’s a proud moment to maintain Ethiopia’s legacy in this championship.”

Beriso emphasized the collective excellence of the athletes, noting their usual individual training efforts that culminated in a collaborative approach ahead of the championships.

The men’s marathon is scheduled for Sunday morning, the final day of the championships, with another hot day anticipated. Consequently, the planned mass participation 10km race on the marathon course has been reduced to a 5km race.