Melkamu fourth woman to break 30-minute barrier In Utrecht

by David Monti from RaceResultsWeekly

Ethiopian Meselech Melkamu, 24, became only the fourth woman in history to break the 30-minute barrier for 10,000m, clocking 29:53.80 in Utrecht, Netherlands tonight. Her mark was the second fastest of all-time and broke Tirunesh Dibaba's national record of 29:54.66 achieved at the Beijing Olympics last August.

The women's 10,000m world record remains 29:31.78 by China's Wang Junxia set in Beijing in 1993.

Kenya's Florence Kiplagat finished second in the race in 30:11 (unofficial). Assuming her mark is made official, she will be the new Kenyan record holder for the distance, displacing Linet Masai who ran 30:26.50 at last August's Olympic Games.

WOMEN 10.000 mtr
1. Meselech Melkamu ETHIOPIA 29:53,80!
2. Florence Kiplagat KENYA 30:11,53
3. Wude Ayalew ETHIOPIA 30:11,87
4. Sylvia Kibet KENYA 30:47,20
5. Aberu Kebede ETHIOPIA 30:48,26
6. Hilda Kibet NETHERLANDS 30:51,92
7. Mamitu Daska ETHIOPIA 31:36,88
8. Gladys Kwambai KENYA 32:47,34
9. Ilse Pol NETHERLANDS 32:47,77
10. Abebech Afework Bekele ETHIOPIA 32:52,67
11. Lara Tamsett AUSTRALIA 32:54,93
Bizunesh Urgesa ETHIOPIA DNF
Ruth Bisibori Nyangau KENYA DNF
Peninah Jepchumba Biwott KENYA DNF

MEN 10.000 mtr
1. Ali Abdosh ETHIOPIA 27:09,40
2. Mathew Kisorio KENYA 27:15,44
3. Abebe Dinkesa ETHIOPIA 27:17,49
4. Ibrahim Jeilan Gashu ETHIOPIA 27:22,19
5. Ezekiel Jafari Ngimba TANZANIA 27:39,92
6. Nicholas Kemboi QUATAR 27:41,99
7. Joseph Marco TANZANIA 27:42,75
Shadrack Lagat KENIA DNF