BERLIN, Germany – Ethiopia’s newcomer Sutume Asefa Kebede produced a thrilling performance in the BIG 25 Berlin. The 21 year-old stormed away after the start of the traditional 25 k race and kept going right to finish line in the historic Berlin Olympic Stadium, smashing the Ethiopian record with a time of 1:21:55.
Despite windy conditions she was 19 seconds faster than Ejegayehu Dibaba in Chicago in 2011. Kebede’s time is a world lead as well and the fifth fastest ever run at this distance. The Ethiopian was more than four minutes faster than second placed Kenyan Winny Jepkorir who clocked 1:25:59.
Fellow-Kenyan Elizeba Cherono was third with 1:26:59. Abraham Cheroben defended his title with a world lead of 1:12:31. The Kenyan was almost a minute ahead of Temesgen Daba Ejerssa.
The Ethiopian took second in 1:13:28 while Kenya’s Kenneth Kipkemoi was third with 1:14:18. 11 480 runners registered for the 35th edition of the BIG 25 Berlin.
