(JT) Deresse Mekonnen of Ethopia finished with a Silver medal in the 1500m on Wednesday during the world athletics championships in Berlin. His time of 3:36.01 was enough to beat the defending champion Bernard Lagat who settled for third place. It was the first time Ethiopia won a world medal at 1,500 meters.
Yusuf Saad Kamel of Bahrain won the race, barely passing the young Deresse in the time of 3:35.93. But the 22-year old Oromia-native was pleased with his performance as Ethiopia now has four medals total in Berlin despite big disappointments in the women races with Meseret Defar and injured Tirunesh Dibaba.
Ethiopia hopes to get at least three more medals in Berlin as Kenenisa has reportedly announced he will compete in the 5,000m while Meseret (5,000) and Gelete Burka (1,500) still have a chance to redeem the Ethiopian women team.
Money Matters
Kenya’s Asbel Kiprop missed the last medal spot and finished in fourth place. However, both Bernard Lagat, who now represents the United States, and Yusuf Saad Kamel, who currently represents Bahrain, were Kenyan athletes before they switched countries.
Yusuf Saad Kamel, whose original Kenyan name is Gregory Konchellah, was planning to quit Bahrain this year because of unpaid salary and bonuses, but the matter reportedly has since been resolved.
The Oil-rich Bahrain has several other Africans running for its national team, including 1500m world champion Zenebech Tola of Ethiopia, who changed her name to Maryam Yusuf Jamal since she began competing for Bahrain.
Deresse In his own words
- "I slept well and woke up early in the morning feeling good about myself. I told myself: "I have done all I can and qualified of the final and only God knows what will happen."
- "I told to myself "Derese today you will be 1, 2, 3, or 4.....one to four, one to four. I felt assured. Just be careful of Choge and that tall Kenyan [Asbel Kiprop]. They are dangerous." - Read More of Deresse's words at ETHIOBERLIN2009.Com
