Bahrain's Balew clocks 3,000m personal best in Oslo Diamond League meet

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain’s Olympics-bound elite athlete Birhanu Balew stepped up his preparations for Tokyo by clocking a new personal best in the men’s 3,000 meters at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway. The event was a Wanda Diamond League Meeting under World Athletics, track and field’s international governing body.

Balew finished fourth in his race with a time of seven minutes 33.05 seconds. His new record beat out his previous top mark of 7:34.26, which he clocked in 2018.

Taking first place in the race was Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia in 7:26.25, while Jacob Krop of Kenya was the runner-up in 7:30.07. In third place was Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, also of Kenya, in 7:33.05. A total of 14 competitors started the race, with two not finishing. Balew’s run was his first in the distance this year in an outdoor event.

He also competed in an indoor 3,000m race in France last February, where he registered a time of 7:37.99. The 25-year-old is part of the Bahrain national team that will be competing at the Tokyo Olympics later this month. He will be one of two Bahrainis going for gold in the men’s 5,000m, where he will be joined by Dawit Fikadu.