Held under wet and challenging conditions at the iconic Luzhniki Stadium, the race was part of Russia’s Athletics Week and featured an elite international lineup. Ethiopia’s Alemnat Valle took the win in a commanding 9:20.08, ahead of compatriot Zeritu Daba Bekele (9:27.64). Russia’s Anastasia Krasilnikova (9:41.24) and Anna Tropina (9:58.37) rounded out the top four, with Akanbi completing the race in a gutsy fifth.
Akanbi’s new record further cements her place among Africa’s emerging talents in middle-distance and steeplechase events. It comes on the heels of a near-record performance in the 1500m during the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta earlier this year, indicating her rapid progress and consistency on both national and international tracks.
This year’s Znamensky Brothers Memorial—the 66th edition—marked a significant return to international status, welcoming athletes from over 20 countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Cuba, and Namibia. Named after legendary Soviet runners Seraphim and Georgy Znamensky, the event remains one of Russia’s most revered track and field competitions.
Other Nigerian athletes also made strong showings in Moscow. Samson Nathaniel clocked a season’s best of 45.55s in the men’s 400m, earning a silver finish behind Russia’s Alexander Masyutenko (45.39s) amid heavy rain that tested the field's resilience.
In the sprint hurdles, Faith Osamuyi placed fifth in the women’s 100m hurdles with a time of 13.36s, running into a modest headwind (-0.5 m/s), while Wisdom Great Musa finished seventh in the men’s 110m hurdles with 14.12s.
Despite modest podium success, Team Nigeria’s presence in Moscow underscored a growing depth in athletics, particularly in endurance and technical events. For Ronke Akanbi, it was a defining day—one that reaffirmed her upward trajectory and her potential to challenge continental records in the near future.