Ethiopia’s Addisu Yihune beat strong challenge from fellow countryman Getnet Wale and Kenya’s Jacob Krop to win the men’s 3000m race at the World Athletics Indoor Tour Gold meeting in Liévin on Thursday night.
For a moment it looked as though the crowd would be treated to a home victory, with Azeddine Habz, the 2025 world leader over 1500m, surged to the front with 700m to go and opened a 15-metre gap with two laps remaining.
But Yihune responded on the final lap, moving into the lead with 100m to go and winning in 7:33.58 from Krop (7:34.68) as Habz faded to fourth.
Two-time world indoor champion Ethiopia’s Freweyni Hailu got her 2026 campaign off to a strong start by winning a high-quality 3000m.
She followed the pacemaker through the first 1000m in 2:48.57, then maintained that pace until the end, winning in a world-leading 8:24.59.
Fellow Ethiopian Aleshign Baweke was second in 8:26.29, while world and Olympic medallist Nadia Battocletti clocked an Italian record of 8:26.44, just 0.03 shy of the European short track record.