19-year-old Ghirmay Ghebreslassie wins world championship marathon
The 2015 IAAF World Championships opened on Saturday morning in Beijing with 19-year-old Ghirmay Ghebreslassie winning the men’s marathon in 2:12:27.
Ghebreslassie waved his country's flag on the track as he entered the Bird's Nest to win Eritrea's first-ever world championship gold medal. The only previous medal won by Eritrea was a silver medal by Zersenay Tadese in the men's 10,000-meter run at the 2009 IAAF World Championships in Berlin.
Yemane Tsegaye of Ethiopia took silver in 2:13:07 and Munyo Solomon Mutai of Uganda rounded out the podium with his 2:13.29 performance for bronze.
Reining Olympic and world champion Stephen Kiprotich of Uganda took sixth in 2:14:42. 2013 and 2015 Boston Marathon champion Lelisa Desisa of Ethiopia finished seventh in 2:14:53.
The Kenyan marathon contingent was left off the podium for the second consecutive global championship. The top Kenyan was Mark Korir who placed 22nd in 2:21:19. New York City Marathon champion Wilson Kipsang and world record holder Dennis Kimetto did not finish the race. Twenty-three other men also failed to complete the race.
Ian Burrell, who trains with the Adidas Rocky Mountain Elite team and serves as a lawyer, was the top American as he finished 25th in 2:23:16.
The first round of the men's 100-meter dash featuring Usain Bolt and Justin Gatlin is scheduled to go off at 7:20 a.m. ET. Olympic champion Mo Farah looks to win his second consecutive world championship gold medal in the men's 10,000-meter run at 8:50 a.m. ET.
• 2015 IAAF World Championships: Startlists, schedule and results
