Ngetich dominates 5,000m as Yavi smashes mile steeplechase world record in Brussels
Ngetich, running solo for much of the race, stormed to 14:24.99, six seconds clear of Ethiopians Likina Amebaw (14:31.51) and Aleshign Baweke (14:31.88). Spain’s Marta Garcia placed fifth in a new national record of 14:33.40.
World record holder Agnes Ngetich lit up the track at the Brussels Diamond League with a dominant 5,000m victory before Olympic champion Winfred Mutile Yavi stole the spotlight in the field’s experimental event, the rarely-run one-mile steeplechase.
Ngetich, running solo for much of the race, stormed to 14:24.99, six seconds clear of Ethiopians Likina Amebaw (14:31.51) and Aleshign Baweke (14:31.88). Spain’s Marta Garcia placed fifth in a new national record of 14:33.40.
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“I wanted a PB, but I had to push alone,” said Ngetich. “My focus now is to medal at the World Championships.”
The Kenyan, already part of a fearsome distance-running quartet with Janeth Chepngetich, Beatrice Chebet and Faith Kipyegon, vowed to target the women’s 5000m and 10,000m titles at the World Championships in Tokyo this September.
Minutes later, the spotlight shifted to the barriers, where Yavi, the Kenyan-born Bahraini, stormed to a world record of 4:40.13 in the one-mile steeplechase, the fastest time ever recorded in the rarely run event.
“It felt really good today, I’m happy with the victory. I was able to keep pushing. Although I had hoped to run a little faster. It’s an unusual distance and I had to run faster than I normally do. It felt harder than the 3000 metres. I had to adjust my jumps because I was approaching the barrier faster,” said Yavi afterwards.
The 2024 Olympic champion and 2023 Diamond League winner had already booked her place in the Zurich Final later this month with earlier performances in Eugene, Doha and Oslo. Friday’s event, however, will not count towards Diamond League points as World Athletics continues to trial the shorter distance.
Beyond the star names, several Kenyans delivered eye-catching displays in Brussels. Mercy Adongo Oketch impressed in the non-Diamond League women’s 400m with a 51.26 finish, while teenage talent Phanuel Koech clocked 3:31.41 for second in the men’s 1500m behind Dutch prodigy Niels Laros (3:30.58).
Nelly Chepchirchir ran 3:57.35 for third in the women’s 1500m, Caroline Nyaga was eighth in the 5000m at 14:36.90, and Abraham Kibiwot came fourth in the men’s steeplechase (8:11.26), where Luxembourg’s Ruben Querinjean claimed a historic win.
Former world javelin champion Julius Yego threw 80.50m to finish fifth, while Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, had a tough outing in the invitational 100m, placing seventh in 10.49.
The Brussels meeting closed the regular Diamond League circuit and set the stage for the season-ending finale in Zurich on August 27–28.
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