ATHLETICS – BAHRAIN’S world and Olympic champion Winfred Yavi posted her season’s best time last night en route to a strong second-place finish in the women’s 3,000 metres steeplechase at the Oslo Bislett Games in Norway.
The meeting was part of this year’s Wanda Diamond League, which is the premier one-day meeting series held annually under World Athletics – track and field’s international governing body.
After a season of competing and earning points to qualify for the final, the top athletes aim for the Diamond Trophy, which is the athletics campaign’s most prestigious yearly crown.
Yavi is a former Diamond Trophy winner, having clinched the honour in 2023.
The 25-year-old clocked a mark of nine minutes 02.76 seconds yesterday, narrowly being beaten to the finish by Kenya’s Faith Cherotich, who had a winning time of 9:02.60. That was a new meeting record and the fastest time in the world this season.
Yavi tried to valiantly chase Cherotich as they made their way around the last bend and down the home straight, but her rival did enough to stay in front.
“Today, I executed the race exactly as I was planning with my coach, but yes, now, I am looking forward to the next one, which will be in Eugene [in the US],” said Yavi, who will be one of the kingdom’s top medal hopefuls at this year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, this September.
“I really love the atmosphere here and the crowd,” she added. “My main target and all I am looking up to is the defence of my world title in Tokyo.”
Yavi and Cherotich were classified in the same positions from their earlier showdown this season last month in the Doha Diamond League meeting.
Taking third place last night was Marwa Bouzayani of Tunisia, who followed quite a distance behind in 9:06.84, while Lea Meyer of Germany was fourth in 9:09.21 and Lomi Muleta of Ethiopia fifth in 9:13.44.
A total of 14 runners competed in the race.
Yavi has yet to dip below the nine-minute mark in competition this year. Her personal best is 8:44.39, which she set last year and which is an Asian and Bahraini record. It is also the second-fastest time ever in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s Birhanu Balew finished 12th yesterday in the men’s 5,000m in Oslo. He clocked his season’s best time of 12:56.45 in his run.
Balew is also expected to be a part of the kingdom’s squad at this year’s worlds.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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