News
Tsegaye wins Great Ethiopia Run (Video)
Published 11/25/2007
- 4:28 p.m. GMT
Dubbed the “biggest road race” held in Africa, the Great Ethiopia Run didn’t disappoint with diverse events including races for children, the Tricycle race, a special competition for ambassadors from numerous countries and lastly the main event: the 7th edition of TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run 10km
Tsegaye Kebede took gold for this year and won the 25,000 ET BIRR prize, but entertainment was the goal today as indicated by the slow times in both the men and women race. Wude Ayalew won the women’s race and also took 25,000 Birr. Tolla Bene and Feyessa Lelissa finished second and third, respectively, for the men’s race.
The event was initially scheduled for September 9, as part of the celebrations of the Ethiopian millennium which turned 2000 on September 12. Security issues were blamed for the postponement of the event at that time but the tensions due to the potential of war with Eritrea resuming were shrugged off today as thousands of Addis Ababa residents and athletes from abroad joined the long run.
Sponsored by Toyota, the 10 kilometer run and the annual competitions have been held since 2001. Today’s numbers topped all as the total participants were estimated at around 35,000 people. According to the official website, the race for children on Saturday attracted around 3,000 young boys and girls.
Winning the “Ambassador’s Award” was Norwegian Jens-Peter Kjemperud who defended his Ethiopian Airlines 1stAmbassador title. His closest challenger last year was the Swedish Ambassador Staffan Tillander. This year had the biggest ever number of ambassadors participating, including the ambassadors of Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, USA, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, India, Malawi and Korea.
The Great Ethiopian Run is led by track great and Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie, who oversees a small team of workers based in one of Haile's new high-rise office buildings in Addis Ababa.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO
RESULTS
1. Tsegaye Kebede (Unattached) 29:06.50
2. Tola Bane (Muger Cement) 29:13.65
3. Feysa Lelisa (Defence) 29:20.25
4. Ayele Abshiro (Unattached) 29:21.82
5. Dereje Tadesse (Defence) 29:24.23
6. Dereje Debele (Defence) 29:29.48
7. Zenbaba Yegezu (St. George) 29:32.00
8. Dino Sefer (Omedla) 29:36.20
9. Tilahun Regassa (Prisons Police) 29:37.00
10. Tesfaye Girma (Omedla) 29:47.80
Tsegaye Kebede took gold for this year and won the 25,000 ET BIRR prize, but entertainment was the goal today as indicated by the slow times in both the men and women race. Wude Ayalew won the women’s race and also took 25,000 Birr. Tolla Bene and Feyessa Lelissa finished second and third, respectively, for the men’s race.
The event was initially scheduled for September 9, as part of the celebrations of the Ethiopian millennium which turned 2000 on September 12. Security issues were blamed for the postponement of the event at that time but the tensions due to the potential of war with Eritrea resuming were shrugged off today as thousands of Addis Ababa residents and athletes from abroad joined the long run.
Sponsored by Toyota, the 10 kilometer run and the annual competitions have been held since 2001. Today’s numbers topped all as the total participants were estimated at around 35,000 people. According to the official website, the race for children on Saturday attracted around 3,000 young boys and girls.
Winning the “Ambassador’s Award” was Norwegian Jens-Peter Kjemperud who defended his Ethiopian Airlines 1stAmbassador title. His closest challenger last year was the Swedish Ambassador Staffan Tillander. This year had the biggest ever number of ambassadors participating, including the ambassadors of Britain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, USA, Spain, Denmark, Switzerland, India, Malawi and Korea.
The Great Ethiopian Run is led by track great and Olympic champion Haile Gebrselassie, who oversees a small team of workers based in one of Haile's new high-rise office buildings in Addis Ababa.
CLICK HERE TO WATCH VIDEO
RESULTS
1. Tsegaye Kebede (Unattached) 29:06.50
2. Tola Bane (Muger Cement) 29:13.65
3. Feysa Lelisa (Defence) 29:20.25
4. Ayele Abshiro (Unattached) 29:21.82
5. Dereje Tadesse (Defence) 29:24.23
6. Dereje Debele (Defence) 29:29.48
7. Zenbaba Yegezu (St. George) 29:32.00
8. Dino Sefer (Omedla) 29:36.20
9. Tilahun Regassa (Prisons Police) 29:37.00
10. Tesfaye Girma (Omedla) 29:47.80
Copyright 2008 Jimma Times. All Right Reserved.
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