Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrhiwet has revealed the strategic teamwork that led him to triumph over Kenyan runners at the Golden Gala Pietro Mennea in Rome.
Gebrhiwet completed the 5000m race in a blistering 12:51.07 edging out his fellow countrymen and fierce competitors from Kenya.
Yomif Kejelcha followed closely in second with a time of 12:51.25, and Selemon Barega claimed the third spot in 12:51.39.
The leading Kenyan, Jacob Krop, finished fourth, clocking 12:51.55 in a race that was much anticipated as a showdown between the best of Ethiopian and Kenyan distance runners.
“This was a very nice race and the track is fast, so I am really happy. Our tactics is that we Ethiopians work together, we have many good Ethiopian 5k runners and if one of us gets tired, another can help out with the peace. I knew ‘I am not alone’. I trained a lot for my last 300-400 meters, for the final kick and this helped me,” Gebrhiwet shared after his victory.
The race saw Gebrhiwet strategically positioning himself behind his teammates before making a decisive surge in the final meters, surpassing Kejelcha and Barega to clinch the win.
“I will race in Brussels. In Paris I was unlucky because after the qualification I got corona so it was very difficult for me. I am very happy about this victory,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kejelcha, who has shown impressive form this season, was reflective about his second-place finish, particularly after a less than ideal performance at the Paris Olympics where he finished sixth in the men’s 10,000m.
Barega, also looking to bounce back from a seventh-place finish at the same Olympics, viewed his third-place finish as a step forward, hinting at the competitive spirit and resilience that define Ethiopian runners.
On the Kenyan front, Jacob Krop’s efforts to lead his countrymen were noteworthy, though not enough to break into the top three.
His fourth-place finish was a respectable performance, especially considering his progress since the Paris Olympic Games where he finished tenth in the men’s 5000m.
Gebrhiwet’s victory in Rome is a significant addition to his illustrious career and highlights the strategic depth and teamwork that Ethiopian runners bring to the fore in international competitio
