Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia wins 3,000m Steeplechase run at Aviva Grand Prix

BIRMINGHAM, England—Sofia Assefa of Ethiopia beat fellow compatriot Almaz Ayana in the Aviva Grand Prix 3,000m steeplechase run here today.

Aviva Grand Prix is a Diamond League Athletics event.

Assefa’s finishing time of 9:25.87, was almost five seconds better than second-placed Ayana. Another Ethiopian athlete Birtukan Adama finished 7th (9:41.95), while Mekdes Bekele failed to finish the race.

Assefa finished second behind arch rival Milcah Chmos of Kenya three times. The latter skipped today’s race as she is preparing for the Kenyan trials next week.

Men’s Category

In the men’s 5,000m race, Imane Merga finished a disappointing 3rh place (13:07.63) finish behind Mohammed Farah of Great Britain (13:06.14) and Galen Rupp of the United States (13:06.86).

Yenew Alamirew of Ethiopia came in 4th ahead of Craig Mottram of Australia and fellow compatriot Abera Kuma.

Results from the Aviva Grand Prix, a Diamond League athletics event at Alexander Stadium:

 

Women

3,000 m steeplechase:

1. Sofia Assefa, Ethiopia, 9:25.87

2.  Almaz Ayana, Ethiopia, 9:30.27

3. Fionnuala Britton, Ireland, 9:37.93

4. Barbara Parker, Britain, 9:37.95

5. Delilah Dicrescenzo, United States

7, Birtukan Adamu, Ethiopia, 9:41.95

10. Mekdes Bekele, Ethiopia, DNF.

 

Men

 5,000m:

1., Mohammed Farah, Britain, 13:06.14

2, Galen Rupp, United States, 13:06.86.

3. Imane Merga, Ethiopia, 13:07.63.

4. Yenew Alamirew, Ethiopia, 13:08.63.

5. Jesus Espana, Spain, 13:10.19.

6. Craig Mottram, Australia, 13:11.51.

7. Abera Kuma, Ethiopia, 13:12.36