ATHLETICS – BAHRAIN’S Shitaye Eshete came close to challenging for a medal yesterday in claiming a top 10 finish in the women’s marathon on the second day of action at the World Athletics Championships 2025 in Tokyo, Japan.
Eshete spearheaded the charge of the kingdom’s three-runner contingent to claim sixth place overall amongst the race’s 73 starters, who were representing 43 nations. Bahrainis Eunice Chumba and Tigist Gashaw were also in the field in yesterday’s 42.2-kilometre event.
Eshete put in a valiant effort throughout the distance to stay within the leading group, but the top contenders began to separate themselves from the rest of the pack as they headed towards the finish.
Eshete came home in a time of two hours 28 minutes and 41 seconds – nearly four minutes behind gold-medallist Peres Jepchirchir of Kenya, who narrowly clinched first in 2:24:43. Jepchirchir won a thrilling duel at the end against Tigst Assefa of Ethiopia, who clinched the bronze medal just two seconds behind in 2:24:45, while Julia Paternain of Uruguay came third in 2:27:23.
Chumba had a solid 16th place race classification in 2:32:22, while Gashaw did not finish.
Meanwhile, Bahrain’s reigning world and Olympic champion Winfred Yavi takes to the track today at Japan’s National Stadium for the women’s 3,000m steeplechase heats.
Yavi begins her world-title defence in the second of three races in this round, which is scheduled for a 4.43am start, Bahrain time.
She is the heavy favourite in her run, which features 13 athletes. Amongst the others are Sembo Almayew of Ethiopia, Angelina Napoleon of the US, Marwa Bouzayani of Tunisia, Gesa Felicitas Krause of Germany, and Parul Chaudhary of India, to name a few.
Only the first five from each heat advance to the final round, which will be held on Wednesday.
Also competing today for Bahrain is Kemi Adekoya in the women’s 400m hurdles heats.
The former indoor world champion will be running in the first of five races, scheduled for a 5.20am start, Bahrain time.
She is one of nine participants in her heat, which is headlined by defending world champion Femke Bol from the Netherlands. The other athletes include Michelle Smith from the Virgin Islands, Ayomide Folorunso from Italy, Naomi van den Broeck from Belgium, Rogail Joseph from South Africa, Robyn Brown from the Philippines, Alanah Yukich from Australia, and Hilia Uusimaki from Finland.
The first four from each heats plus the four fastest times make it through to the semis, which will be held on Wednesday. The final is then scheduled to take place on Friday.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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