Copenhagen
Kenya’s Caroline Gitonga secured a magnificent global silver medal but could not stop the unstoppable Likina Amebaw, who capitalized on her tactical brilliance and recent multi-million shilling windfall to claim a dominant 5km victory at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26 on Saturday (September 19).
The Ethiopian 28-year-old took control of the race during the first kilometre and made her winning move as she reached the four-kilometre mark, kicking away from Gitonga. Having pocketed a staggering $150,000 (approx. $19.3 million) just six days prior for claiming the inaugural World Athletics Ultimate Championship crown in Budapest, Amebaw added another $40,000 (approx. Sh5.1 million) in world road championship top prize money. This brought her extraordinary six-day combined earnings to a massive $190,000 (over Sh24.5 million).
Ethiopia's 28-year-old Likina Amebaw outpaces Kenya's Caroline Gitonga to win the 5km road race at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26 on Saturday (September 19). (Photo / World Athletics)
“It was a very good race, and I'm really happy about my race. There was a little wind, but it was okay and I managed to find some good spots on the course. I'm coming straight from Budapest, but the shift from track to road was not really difficult as I have been training both at the same time,” the Ethiopian said.
“The track was a bit difficult for me so running the 5k today was better and I felt good and I had prepared for the road racing. I knew I had to push from the very start and it worked as planned. I don't have any goals for the near future, so we will see as I will talk with my coach first.”
Her rivals had no response to her financial and athletic momentum, leaving Amebaw enough time to celebrate on her approach to the finish line, which she crossed in 14:41. Gitonga fought bravely to secure the silver medal in 14:48, walking away with a handsome $20,000 (approx. Sh2.5 million) payday of her own. Australia’s Rose Davies finished strongly to clinch bronze in an Oceanian record of 14:50.
Gitonga said she will now focus on shaving a minute off her half marathon personal best at the Valencia Half Marathon next month.
“I am very happy. But to be honest it was a tough race. I am so happy to represent my country. It comes with joy to do that. To be honest, I knew they chose me, because I am one of the strongest,” Gitonga said.
“After Valencia I will think about, what my next goal should be. Right now, there is no pressure, other than I will go back and prepare for the half marathon in Valencia. And then I can think about next season. It is not my last competition. I will be going back and preparing for the half marathon in Valencia next month. My next goal is to get a new PB. My PB now for a half marathon is 1 hour and 6 minutes and I hope to improve it with one minute."
Racing on a cool afternoon, it was Great Britain’s Megan Keith who made her way to the front of the pack early on. Amebaw soon joined her and then eased past, followed closely by Gitonga and Uganda’s Charity Cherop.
The leaders, who covered the first kilometre in just outside three minutes, picked up the pace and by the time they reached the 2km marker in around 5:58, Amebaw was leading a breakaway group of three ahead of her compatriot Aleshign Baweke and the determined Gitonga.
Gitonga then took a bold turn at the front, driving the pace as they hit the 3km mark inside nine minutes. Baweke struggled to maintain the intense rhythm and with 10 minutes on the clock she had been dropped, leaving Amebaw and Gitonga running side by side in a thrilling duel.
Baweke was five seconds back as the leaders ran alongside the lake, approaching the final kilometre. However, that 4km marker was Amebaw’s cue to surge – she moved away from Gitonga with ease, returning past Trianglen with only the final 600-metre stretch past Parken remaining.
Amebaw could enjoy the moment, starting her celebrations with the finish line in sight to secure a seven-second victory. Davies was a couple of seconds behind Gitonga, clinching the final podium place by a single second ahead of South Africa’s Tayla Kavanagh in a PB of 14:51. Baweke finished fifth in 14:53, while the top six all finished inside 15 minutes, with Spain’s Marta García next over the finish line in a PB of 14:59.
“I'm super stoked. I just had to hold on and I held on for about one kilometre. When racing, you have to adjust. And you just have to push to stay in line, and I knew if I lasted until the last 500 metres I would have a chance. I gave all I had for the last 500 metres. There were three girls going for the bronze medal and I didn't want to come in fifth. So, I just gave all I had,” Davies reacted.
“It is my last race of the season and I just had to empty the tank. I competed in Budapest last week, and I knew it would be different from road running. It was hard right from the start and I had to keep telling myself that I could do it. I kept saying to myself come on, come on! And I was taking any positives that I could. This is my last competition of the season and I will go home to Australia and enjoy the brake.”
Leading results:
- Likina Amebaw (Ethiopia) – 14:41
- Caroline Gitonga (Kenya) – 14:48
- Rose Davies (Australia) – 14:50
- Tayla Kavanagh (South Africa) – 14:51
- Aleshign Baweke (Ethiopia) – 14:53
- Marta García (Spain) – 14:59
Likina Amebaw of Team Ethiopia reacts as she crosses the finish line to win the Women's 5000 Metres Final during Day 3 of the World Athletics Ultimate Championship at National Athletics Centre on September 13, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.On Saturday, she won the 5km race at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen 26. (Photo / Mattia Ozbot / World Athletics via Getty Images)
(World Athletics and Agencies)
BELOW: Pictorial from the Women’s 5km race at the World Athletics Road Running Championships Copenhagen on Saturday (September 19, 2016). (All Photos / World Athletics)
