Balew of Bahrain sets personal best 3,000m at Diamond League meeting in Oslo | THE DAILY TRIBUNE
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Bahrain’s elite Olympian-linked athlete Birhanu Balew stepped up preparations for Tokyo by setting a new personal best in the men’s 3,000 meters at the Bislett Games in Oslo, Norway. The event was a meeting of the Wanda Diamond League under the direction of World Athletics, the international governing body of athletics.
Balew was fourth in his race with a time of seven minutes 33.05 seconds. His new record broke his previous record of 7: 34.26, which he set in 2018.
Yomif Kejelcha of Ethiopia took first place in the race in 7: 26.25 while Jacob Krop of Kenya was second in 7: 30.07. In third place was Nicholas Kipkorir Kimeli, also from Kenya, in 7: 33.05. A total of 14 competitors started the race, two of whom did not finish. Balew’s race was his first over the distance this year in an outdoor event.
He also competed in a 3,000m indoor race in France last February, where he recorded a time of 7: 37.99. The 25-year-old is part of Bahrain’s national team which will compete in the Tokyo Olympics later this month. He will be one of two Bahrainis to go for gold in the men’s 5,000m, where he will be joined by Dawit Fikadu.