Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia wins 3000m despite losing shoe

Boston, USA – Despite running with just one shoe, Dejen Gebremeskel of Ethiopia upset race favorite Mo Farah of the UK to win the men’s 3,000 metres at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix here today.

Dejen won the race in 7:35.37 ahead of Mo, who clocked 7:35.81.

The Ethiopian lost his right shoe early in the race but pressed with a finishing burst with one foot shod only in a sock.

“It’s really hard to run in one shoe,” Gebremeskel, 21, said afterwards.

Somalia-born Farah, while disappointed with second place, was encouraged by the swift pace in his first race of the year.

The Women’s 3000m saw World Indoor 1500m Champion (and last year’s winner in this event) Kalkidan Gezahegne of Ethiopia finishing a disappointing fourth place.