Kaki and Aregawi sizzle to World Leads, Defar, Zang-Milama wins & Gaisah hits 8m in Stockholm

Submitted by Yomi Omogbeja on 23 February 2011 - 10:23am

Ethiopians Abeba Aregawi and Meseret Defar led other Africans Abubaker Kaki, Richard Kiplagat and Ruddy Zang-Milama to victories at the Ericsson Globe Stockholm Indoor Grand Prix meeting on Tuesday.

Meseret Defar won the women's 3000m in 8:36.91 ahead of American Shalane Flanagan (8:39.18) and Polish Lidia Chojecka (8:44.25). Mercy Njoroge of Kenya settled for fourth place in 8:44.27.

Abeba Arigawi of Ethiopia won the women's 1500m in a world leading 4:01.47. The reigning World indoor champion Kalkidan Gezahegne from Ethiopia finished second in 4:03.83 and Irene Jelegat of Kenya was third in 4:05.17.

Richard Kiplagat led a Kenyan sweep of the men's 800m in 1:46.28 ahead of Boaz Lalang (1:46.37) and Jackson Kivuna (1:46.38).

Gabon's Zang Milama capped a fantastic indoor season, in which she had ran 7.15 secs and 7.17secs twice, beating a quality women's 60m field in 7.20 secs. American Gloria Asumnu, who won in Birmingham last weekend, was second in 7.25 secs with Inna Eftimova of Bulgaria third in 7.34 secs.

Abubaker Kaki of Sudan again fell short in his World indoor record challenge in the 1000m, but still prevailed over the field to win in a world leading time 2:17.55. Kenyans Augustine Choge (2:18.91) and Bethwell Birgen  (2:19.03) were second and third respectively.

Ghana's Ignisious Gaisah soared to a season's best 8.00m mark to finish third in the men's Long Jump. Swedish Michel Tornéus won the event with a lifetime best jump 8.13m with Cuban Wilfredo Martinez taking second with 8.07m.

Selected Results

Men's Long Jump

1) Michel Tornéus (Hammarby IF) 8.13 (PB)

2) Wilfredo Martinez (Cuba) 8.07

3) Ignisious Gaisah (Ghana) 8.00 (SB)

Women's 1500m

1) Abeba Arigawi (Ethiopia) 4:01.47 (WL, PB)

2) Kalkidan Gezahegne (Ethiopia) 4:03.83

3) Irene Jelegat (Kenya) 4:05.17

Men's 800m A-final  

1) Richard Kiplagat  (Kenya)  1:46.28

2) Boaz Lalang  (Kenya)  1:46.37

3) Jackson Kivuna  (Kenya)   1:46.38 (PB)

4) Andrew Osagie (Great Britain)  1:46.59

Men's 400m A-final  

1) Johan Wissman  (IFK Helsingborg)  47.41

2) Clemens Zeller  (Austria)  47.57

3) Jamaal Torrance  (USA)  47.58

Rabah Yousif  (Sudan)   DQ

Women's 60m

1) Ruddy Zang-Milama (Gabon) 7.20

2)  Gloria Asumnu  (USA)  7.25

3)  Inna Eftimova  (Bulgaria)  7.34

4)  Me'Lisa Barber  (USA)  7.34

Women's 3000m  

1) Meseret Defar  (Ethiopia)  8:36.91 (AR)

2) Shalane Flanagan  (USA)  8:39.18

3) Lidia Chojecka  (Poland)  8:44.25

4) Mercy Njoroge  (Kenya)  8:44.27

5) Mekdes Bekele  (Ethiopia)  8:47.14

Men's 1000m  

1) Abubaker Kaki  (Sudan)  2:17.55

2) Augustine Choge  (Kenya)  2:18.91

3) Bethwell Birgen  (Kenya)  2:19.03

4) Deresse Mekonnen  (Ethiopia)  2:19.12

Click here for Full Results