Ronke Akanbi produced a landmark performance on Sunday at the Znamensky Brothers Memorial in Moscow, breaking her own national record in the women’s 3000 metres steeplechase despite finishing fifth in the race.
Competing against a strong international field, the 20-year-old Nigerian clocked 10:17.01, to surpass her previous national best of 10:22.85 set earlier in February 2024 in Asaba.
The race, held in challenging wet conditions at the Luzhniki Stadium during Russia’s Athletics Week, saw Ethiopia’s Alemnat Valle take the victory in 9:20.08, followed by compatriot Zeritu Daba Bekele in 9:27.64.
Russian athletes Anastasia Krasilnikova (9:41.24) and Anna Tropina (9:58.37) placed third and fourth respectively, before Akanbi crossed the line in fifth.
Despite missing out on a podium finish, the performance reaffirms Akanbi’s growing status in African middle-distance running and comes just months after she narrowly missed the 1500m national record during the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta.
The 66th edition of the Znamensky Brothers Memorial, returning to international status this year following relaxed restrictions, featured athletes from over 20 countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Cuba, and Namibia.
The meeting is named after Seraphim and Georgy Znamensky, famed Soviet long-distance runners from the 1930s, and is one of Russia’s most prestigious athletics competitions.
Elsewhere at the meeting, Nigerian quarter-miler Samson Nathaniel also impressed with a season’s best of 45.55s to finish second in the men’s 400m.
He trailed Russia’s Alexander Masyutenko, who won the race in 45.39 seconds, as both athletes battled through a torrential downpour.
In the sprint hurdles, Faith Osamuyi placed fifth in the women’s 100mH, clocking 13.36s against a -0.5m/s headwind.
Meanwhile, Wisdom Great Musa was seventh in the men’s 110mH with a time of 14.12s.
