Beijing: Eritrea claimed the first gold of the world athletics championships when unheralded teenager Ghirmay Ghebreslassie stormed to a shock victory in the men’s marathon on Saturday.
After a build-up marked by controversies over doping, competition finally got off to an early start, when Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich sought to defend his marathon title.
But in hot, clear conditions, Kiprotich could only finish sixth as 19-year-old Ghebreslassie took the lead from Lesotho’s Tsepo Ramonene Mathibelle on the 36km mark and saw off pressure from Ethiopian Yemane Tsegay for a memorable win in 2hr 12min 27sec.
“I am so proud of this victory. This is my first gold medal in my first marathon championship,” said the Eritrean, crowned the youngest ever world marathon winner in just his fourth race.
“It’s a very special thing for me. It gives me motivations to continue to work hard. My medal is the first gold medal in Eritrean history.”
Eritrea had previously only ever claimed one medal — a silver by Tadese Zersenay’s silver in the 10,000 metres in the 2009 worlds in Berlin.
There were no dramas for Ethiopian Genzebe Dibaba or Kenyan David Rudisha in the heats for the women’s 1,500 metres and men’s 800 metres respectively.
Dibaba, who is hunting a 1,500-5,000 double having recently set a new world record in the shorter race in Monaco, coasted her heat in a fastest time of 4:02.59.
“This is a special championships in a special city because my sister [Tirunesh] won two golds here at the 2008 Beijing Olympics,” Dibaba said.
“So my main goal is to get two gold medals too. I know I can run very fast and I am ready to run faster in the following rounds, but my main goal is just a medal.”
Rudisha likewise had no problems, along with Botswanan rival Nijel Amos, easily coming through his heat in 1:48.31.
“I have qualified and now I’m looking forward to the final,” said Rudisha, who has overcome a thigh injury earlier this season.
