EUGENE- Trailblazer Werkuha Getachew once again entered into Ethiopia’s history books after giving her country a maiden women’s 3000m steeplechase silver medal at the World Championships in Oregon.
Entering the race as the reigning African Champion, Werkuha did not disappoint as she pushed World Leader this season Winfred Yavi of Bahrain and Norah Jeruto of Kazakhstan to the wire, setting a new National Record of 8 minutes, 54.61 seconds.
The 26-year-old, who comes from Gelemso, Hararghe, the Eastern part of Ethiopia, was all smiles after the race, dedicating the medal to Africa.
“Ethiopia is known to making history and I am glad that I am joining the likes of legendary Abebe Bikila and Derartu Tulu among the firsts. My win is a win for Africa, I am proud to achieve this feat,” An elated Werkuha said after the race.
“It was a tough race, I expected it, because it had the best athletes in the world, my strategy with my compatriot Mekides Abebe was to follow the pack and reserve the energy for the final kick, and that paid off,” she underpinned.
“Norah (Jeruto) is in a class of her own, she is a top athlete and on form currently. This silver will spur me to go for Gold in Budapest next year, I know it will not be easy, I will go back home and train hard,” Werkuha, who runs for Ethiopia’s Military side Defence said.
The race attracted a deep field that included Olympic Champion Peruth Chemutai of Uganda, former World Under-20 champion Celliphine Chepsol of Kenya as well as Kenyan born Jeruto who now runs for Kazakhstan.
Before Werkuha’s silver, Ethiopia only had one medal in the 3000m steeplechase at the Worlds courtesy of Sofia Assefa who won bronze in 2013 Moscow Championships.
-For the love of Steeplechase-
Werkuha seems to have fallen in love with the water and barrier jump race, after trying out the 1500m and 800m races.
She started off her running career in 1500m in 2020 at the national championship before venturing in the 800m race in 2021 where she qualified for the Tokyo Olympics during the trials in Hengelo, but was withdrawn from the team.
This is after the Ethiopian Athletics Federation and Olympic Committee differed over her hormonal imbalance.
This is where she launched her firsts after setting a new national record in the women’s 800m, becoming the first woman in Ethiopia to break 1:57 in 2021.
She then decided to settle for the middle-distance race, making her debut in 2021 in Ethiopia, clocking 9:53.3, then headed to the Africa Senior Championship in Mauritius where she led compatriot Zerfe Wondemagegn to a 1-2 finish, bettering her time to 9:36.81.
That prepared her for the World Championships and on her debut, she impressed with a personal best that propelled her to be ranked as the 4th fastest woman in the world.
Alex Isaboke
