ATHLETICS – BAHRAIN’S Birhanu Balew raced to an impressive third-place finish in the men’s 5,000 metres at the Meeting International d’Athletisme Herculis in Monaco.
The event was part of this season’s – track and field’s premier one-day meeting series held annually under World Athletics, the sport’s international governing body.
Balew was competing against a high-quality field of 18 runners. He completed the race in 12 minutes 53.51 seconds in what was his fourth appearance in the Diamond League this season.
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia won in 12:49.46, while Jimmy Gressier of France came second, just ahead of Balew, in 12:53.36.
Balew’s time was his second-best of the year in the distance. In his previous race in Paris last month, he had set a new Asian and Bahraini record of 12:48.67 en route to placing seconds.
This year’s Wanda Diamond League calendar comprises 15 of the most prestigious meetings in the sport, where athletes vie for points in a bid to qualify for the two-day Diamond League Final, to be held in Zurich, Switzerland, in August. There, qualified athletes will vie for Diamond Trophies as the yearly champions of their respective events.
Balew is also expected to be amongst the kingdom’s top medal hopefuls who will be competing at this year’s World Athletics Championships 2025, set to take place in Tokyo, Japan, from September 13 to 21.
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