The Kip Keino Classic witnessed a thrilling spectacle on Saturday evening as Ethiopia’s Wosane Asefa, Kena Tufa, and Firehiwot Gesese staged a dramatic clean sweep in the women’s 3000m steeplechase at the Ulinzi Sports Complex.
The trio delivered a masterclass in distance running, with Asefa producing a powerful late surge to clinch victory in a personal best time of 9:30.68. Hot on her heels was compatriot Kena Tufa, who also clocked a personal best of 9:31.72 to take second place, while Firehiwot Gesese completed the Ethiopian dominance, finishing third in 9:32.09.
The race was a rollercoaster of shifting leads and tactical brilliance. Gesese, tall and commanding, stamped her authority in the early laps, setting a blistering pace that threatened to leave the rest of the field behind. But Kenya’s Jackline Chepkoech, backed by an expectant home crowd, injected fresh energy midway through, overtaking Gesese as Diana Chepkemoi shadowed her in a spirited Kenyan push.
However, Ethiopia’s resilience shone through. Gesese fought back valiantly to reclaim the lead, only to falter in the closing stages. Asefa, running a smartly measured race, bided her time before making her decisive move in the final lap. The 17-year-old’s composure and finishing kick proved too strong for the rest of the field as she powered to an impressive win.
Tufa, equally impressive, followed closely behind to seal the Ethiopian one-two, while Gesese, despite her early dominance, managed to hold on for third.
Kenya’s hopes of a podium finish faded in the final laps. Diana Chepkemoi placed fourth, while Jackline Chepkoech, after her aggressive surge, settled for fifth. Uganda’s Nancy Chepkwurui and Loice Chekwemoi finished eighth and twelfth respectively, while Romania’s Stella Rutto came in tenth.
The Kip Keino Classic once again proved to be a vibrant stage for showcasing East Africa’s distance running supremacy.
