Gebrhiwet, Tesfaye Reclaim Great Ethiopia Run Titles
19th November 2018
Annual race had 44,000 participants with Uganda 2012 Olympic winner, Kiprotich and three-time World Half champion Tadese guests of honour
- The men’s race saw the return of Gebrhiwet, winner of the men’s race in 2012, after two injury-plagued seasons as he lined up alongside 2015 runner-up Bonsa Dida and national 10,000m champion Tilahun Hailu
- Tesfaye surprised many with her unexpected victory in 2016, but having gained experience of international track races since then, she was keen to return to the roads
- The course was changed again this year to accommodate traffic considerations for a summit in the city
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- Olympic 5000m bronze medallist Hagos Gebrhiwet and 20-year-old Fotyen Tesfaye regained their titles at the TOTAL Great Ethiopian Run in Addis Ababa on Sunday.
The men’s race saw the return of Gebrhiwet, winner of the men’s race in 2012, after two injury-plagued seasons as he lined up alongside 2015 runner-up Bonsa Dida and national 10,000m champion Tilahun Hailu.
But after running as part of the lead pack in the first half of the race, Gebrhiwet’s experience shone through in the second half. The 2013 world 5000m silver medallist took control of the contest just after the seven-kilometre mark and went on to achieved a dominant win in 28:55 ahead of Dida (29:04) and Hailu (29:14).
“It was a tough race in many aspects,” said the 2015 world bronze medallist, who now joins Azmeraw Bekele as the only man to win the Great Ethiopian Run more than once. “I am glad to return (to winning ways).”
Tesfaye surprised many with her unexpected victory in 2016, but having gained experience of international track races since then, she was keen to return to the roads.
She did not disappoint, picking up a hard-fought victory over Tsehay Gemechu and world U20 3000m bronze medallist Tsige Gebreselama to win in 33:44.
“Winning the race for a second time was not easy,” said Tesfaye after becoming the third woman to achieve two victories at the Great Ethiopian Run. “I am really happy about this.”
The course was changed again this year to accommodate traffic considerations for a summit in the city. The race had more than 44,000 participants taking part with Eritrea’s three-time world half marathon champion Zersenay Tadese and Uganda’s 2012 Olympic marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich the guests of honour.
-Report by Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
LEADING RESULTS
Men
1 Hagos Gebrhiwet (ETH) 28:55
2 Bonsa Dida (ETH) 29:04
3 Tilahun Hailu (ETH) 29:14
Women
1 Foten Tesfaye (ETH) 33:44
2 Tsehay Gemechu (ETH) 33:49
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3 Tsige Gebreselama (ETH) 33:53