Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji produced a huge upset in the women’s road mile at the first World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga, Latvia, on Sunday (1 October). After her two golds at August's Budapest World Championships and three world records this year - one of which, the 5000m, has since been eclipsed - Faith Kipyegon was fully expected to maintain her unbeaten record in 2023. But Welteji, who was second to Kipyegon in the 1500m in Budapest, kicked clear in the closing stages to take victory in a new world record of 4:20.98. And with about 100 metres to go, Welteji stepped up a gear to become the first ever world road mile champion. There was also a world record in an exhilarating finish to the men’s road mile with less than a second covering the first five athletes home.

Source: Ethiopian News October 02, 2023 09:53 UTC