Ethiopian Masterclass in Doha: Medina Eisa leads stunning 5,000m sweep, while Birke Haylom triumphed in 1,500m

Ethiopia put on an absolute clinic in distance running at the Doha Diamond League meeting on Friday, June 19, staging an extraordinary clean sweep of the top five positions in the women’s 5000 meters.

At the forefront of the tactical masterclass was rising star Medina Eisa, who showcased a devastating kick on the final lap at the Suheim bin Hamad Stadium to capture victory in a hard-fought 14:53.91.

With the Doha heat playing its usual role in long-distance strategy, the race initially transformed into a cagey, tactical affair. The pacemakers kept an honest rhythm, but the real racing began when the pack reached the final kilometer, where the Ethiopian contingent moved to the front to control the tempo.

As the bell rang for the final 400m, a pack of five Ethiopian jerseys detached themselves from the rest of the field. Likina Amebaw launched a fierce strike for the line on the back straight, but Medina Eisa tracked her perfectly. Coming off the final bend, Medina Eisa unleashed a superior top-end gear to edge past Likina Amebaw in the closing meters, taking the tape by a mere fraction of a second. Likina Amebaw secured a well-deserved second place in 14:54.37, while 19-year-old sensation Marta Alemayo locked down the final spot on the podium in 14:55.65.

Teenage sensation Birke Haylom overcame a grueling competition schedule to secure a dominant victory in the women’s 1500 meters at the Doha Diamond League meeting on Friday, June 19. The Ethiopian star dictated the tempo at the Suheim bin Hamad Stadium, leading an exceptional clean sweep of the podium for her nation by breaking the tape in a swift 3:59.89.

Heading into the Doha leg, Birke Haylom admitted to having limited training blocks due to an intensely packed racing calendar. However, the lack of preparation hardly showed on the track. Managing the characteristically warm Qatari conditions perfectly, Birke Haylom positioned herself comfortably at the front of the pack as the pacemakers stepped off.

When the real racing began on the final lap, Birke Haylom unleashed her trademark acceleration. While she didn’t quite threaten her loftiest personal marks, her tactical execution left the rest of the field fighting for minor places as she became the only woman on the night to dip under the coveted four-minute barrier.

The race quickly turned into a showcase of Ethiopia’s unmatched depth in middle-distance running. Saron Berhe tracked Birke Haylom’s move late in the race, showing immense poise to claim the second spot in 4:02.61 min. Completing the structural lockout for the East African powerhouse was Hargueni Kalayu, who crossed the line shortly after in 4:03.56 to secure the final podium step.