byLarry Eder
Dawit Seyaum, photo by PhotoRun.net
Dawit Seyaum has a few medals on her wall. In 2013, Dawit took silver in the World Youth Championships. Her next medal was gold, when she won the 1,500 meters at the African Junior Championships.
In 2014, Dawit Seyaum broke four minutes, for the first time. On June 8, 2014, in Marrakesh, Morocco, Dawit ran 3:59.53 for the 1,500 meters, the new Ethiopian Junior record.
Dawit Sayum, winning the 1,500m on her 18th birthday, photo by PhotoRun.net
July 27 was a special day for Dawit Seyaum. Dawit was celebrating her eighteenth birthday while she was in Eugene, Oregon, for the World Junior Athletics Championships.
She celebrated it in the grand tradition of the fine distance running women from Ethiopia: Dawit Seyaum won the gold medal at the 1,500 meters!
Gudaf Segay lead the pack through the 400 meters in 68.96, pretty pedestrian pace for this crowd. Right on her back was Dawit Seyaum, and the American, Alexa Efraimson, who wanted a medal so bad, that she could taste it.
Dawit Seyaum took no chances. She took the lead and hit the 800 meters in 2:17.13. Efraimson, Segay, Cranny, Sheila Chepnegitch Keter, were all there.
Seyaum could toy with the field. But, by the 1200 meters, she got down to business, leading at the 1200 meters in 3:23.91. Covering the third lap in 66.7, Seyaum was not in full flight.
Needing only 46 seconds to run the last 400 meters, Dawit Seyaum gave herself a gold medal for her eighteenth birthday, running the 1,500 meters in 4:09.86. Gudaf Segay took the silver, giving Ethiopia a 1,2 in the 1,500 meters (like Ethiopia had in the 5,000m for men and women). Segay ran 4:10.83. Sheila Chepnegitch Keter took the bronze with her Pb of 4:11.21, holding off Elise Cranny of the US, who charged into fourth, almost nabbing the bronze, with her 4:12.82. In fifth, Sofia Ennaoui, of Poland ran 4:13.06. Alexa Efraimson, USA, who had tried so gallantly to medal in this race, slowed to sixth place, running 4:13.31.
Dawit Seyaum is possessed of great closing speed, fearless racing tactics and a heart and set of lungs that, god given, can challenge the Ethiopian senior records.
For now, this new eighteen year old has a long trip home, and more training to do before we see her pick up her next medal!
Dawit Seyaum, put her on your short list for those who can run the 1,500 meters fast, very, very fast.
Dawit Seyaum, celebrating her victory, photo by PhotoRun.net
