Women’s 10,000m

1. Almaz Ayana (Eth) 29:17:452. Vivian Cheruiyot (Ken) 29:32:533. Tirunesh Dibaba (Eth) 29:42:564. Alice Nawowuna (Ken) 29:53:5113. Diane Nukuri (Bdi) 31:28:6927. Salome Nyirarukundo (Rwa) 32:07:80

Rwanda’s 18-year old Salome Nyirarukundo finished in 27th in the first track and field competition of the 2016 Rio Olympics that took place on Friday evening at the Olympic Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Ethiopia’s 24-year old Almaz Ayana won the race to claim the first athletics gold medal in scintillating style, breaking a record that had stood for 23 years. Ayana shattered the world record in a time of 29:17.45, beating silver medalist Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya by over 15 seconds.

Two-time world champion Cheruiyot finished in 29:32.53, while Ethiopia’s Tirunesh Dibaba won the bronze medal with a time of 29:42.56, missing out on the chance to become the first woman to win three individual gold medals in a row. She won the races during the 2008 and 2012 editions.

Ayana broke the old world record of 29:31.78, which was set by China’s Junxia Wang in 1993. 

Meanwhile, Nyirarukundo, who was making her Olympic debut and competing in only her second competition at the senior level, clocked 32:07:80, hence failing to beat her personal best time of 31:45:82. Burundian Diane Nukuri finished 13th using 31:2869

The Rutsiro District-born middle distance runner set her personal best during the 20th edition of Africa Athletics Senior that took place in Durban, South Africa.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw