Yomif Kejelcha

Yomif Kejelcha

Yomif Kejelcha in 2016
Personal information
Born (1997-08-01) August 1, 1997
Sport
Country  Ethiopia
Sport Athletics
Event(s) 3000 metres
5000 metres
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s) 2000 m: 4:57.74i (2014)
3000 m: 7:28.19 (2016)
5000 m: 12:53.98 (2015)

Yomif Kejelcha Atomsa (born 1 August 1997) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner.

Career

Yomif Kejelcha made his international debut at the 2013 World Youth Championships in Donetsk, winning gold in the boys' 3000 metres with a time of 7:53.56.[1][2] At the Ostrava Golden Spike elite meeting in May 2014 he placed second over 3000 metres in 7:36.28, losing only to Kenya's Caleb Ndiku; he defeated 2008 Olympic medallist Nick Willis and former World Champion Bernard Lagat.[1][3] Yomif won the 5000 metres at the 2014 World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon, running 13:25.19; he also won gold, in the 3000 metres, at the Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing later that summer.[1] He finished 2014 as the world youth leader at both 3000 and 5000 metres, and world junior leader at 3000 metres.[1]

Yomif opened his 2015 season at the African Junior Championships in Addis Ababa, winning the 5000 metres in 14:31.03.[1][4] He made his IAAF Diamond League debut in Doha, placing fifth in the 3000 m; he then won a non-Diamond Race 5000 m race at the Prefontaine Classic in Eugene, improving his personal best to 13:10.54 and outkicking Edwin Soi and Galen Rupp.[5] Yomif scored his first Diamond League victory the following week at the Golden Gala in Rome, winning in a world-leading 12:58.39 and breaking 13 minutes for the first time.[1][6] On September 11, 2015 Kejelcha competed in the Diamond League event in Brussels and set a new personal best (and world-leading time for 2015) of 12:53.98 in the 5,000 meter event.[7]

He started 2016 by winning the gold in the 3000 metres at the 2016 World Indoor Championships in Portland. On 27 August 2016, Kejelcha won the 3000m at the 2016 Diamond League Lausanne meet in a new U20 world record of 7:28.19.

International competitions

Year Competition Venue Position Event Notes
Representing  Ethiopia
2013 World Youth Championships Donetsk, Ukraine 1st 5000 m 7:53.56
2014 World Junior Championships Eugene, United States 1st 5000 m 13:25.19
Youth Olympic Games Nanjing, China 1st 3000 m 7:56.20
2015 African Junior Championships Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 1st 5000 m 14:31.03
World Championships Beijing, China 4th 5000 m 13:52.43
2016 World Indoor Championships Portland, United States 1st 3000 m 7:57.21

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Tilastopaja profile for Yomif Kejelcha
  2. "Kejelcha restores Ethiopia's pride in the boys' 3000m in Donetsk". International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). 14 July 2013. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  3. "Yomif Kejelcha wint in Nanjing" (in Dutch). Hardloopnieuws.nl. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  4. Negash, Elshadai; Wagar, Bizuayehu (8 March 2015). "5000m double for hosts Ethiopia at African Junior Championships". IAAF. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  5. Goe, Ken (29 May 2015). "Teenager Yomif Kejelcha runs away with the Prefontaine Classic 5,000". Oregon Live LLC. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  6. Minshull, Phil (4 June 2015). "World leads for Ethiopia's Kejelcha and Aman in Rome – IAAF Diamond League". IAAF. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
  7. Mulkeen, Jon (11 September 2015). "AFRICAN RECORDS FOR GHRIBI AND KIPYEGON IN BRUSSELS – IAAF DIAMOND LEAGUE". IAAF. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
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