Meselech Melkamu of Ethiopia wins 5000m in Grosseto (© Getty Images)
Former double World Cross Country Championships silver medallist Gebregziabher Gebremariam, and the reigning World Junior 5000m champion Meselech Melkamu will lead Ethiopia’s strong squad of fourteen for the annual International Chiba Ekiden in Japan on 23 November 2005.
But the Ethiopians, who have won both the men’s and women’s disciplines for the last three consecutive years, have made significant alterations to last year’s squad.
WOMEN – Defar, Kidane and Dibaba sisters absent, but squad still looks strong
The major changes this year have come in the women’s squad where Ethiopia will not be counting on the talents of its double World champion Tirunesh Dibaba, her sister Ejegayehou, Olympic 5000m champion Meseret Defar, or the former World Cross long course champion Werknesh Kidane.
Despite their absence, Ethiopia’s current women’s team remains a good bet for a fourth Ekiden. Meselech Melkamu, who was also the 2004 World Junior Cross champion, leads the team and having made a dramatic entrance to senior competition in 2005 with a fourth place finish in the senior World 5000m final in Helsinki, she represents a sound bet for honours.
Ethiopia’s squad also contains the country’s newest distance running jewel in Gelete Burika. The current World Junior Cross champion has been a revelation in 2005 with a domestic treble (1500m, 5000m, and 4x400m relay) in the Ethiopian championships last May. The 18-year old also made a dramatic breakthrough in making Ethiopia’s squad for Helsinki, where she finished a very respectable seventh in the 1500m final.
Completing the country’s selection for Chiba are the former World Youth 3000m champion Sentayehu Ejigu, 10,000m national bronze medallist Bizunesh Bekele, Werkitu Ayana, who is a former World Cross fourth placer, Derebe Alemu, and Alemitu Abera.
MEN - Gebremariam leads men’s challenge
It has been a disastrous season for Gebremariam after a year which begun with much promise. Two relative low points in particular - 9th in the World Cross short race and 15th in the Helsinki 10,000m final - will give him the incentive to do well in Japan.
Abebe Dinkessa ran the longest leg 12km leg in last year’s Chiba victory and returned back to Addis Ababa to win the Toyota Great Ethiopian Run at altitude. He has again enjoyed an improved year recording 26:30.74 for the 10,000m in Hengelo, and finishing seventh over the same distance in Helsinki.
Markos Geneti is another runner to retain his place from last year. He was eliminated at the World Championships in Helsinki in second round elimination of the 1500m in what was only his fourth ever race over the distance in his career!
Tariku Bekele, younger brother of Ethiopian distance running sensation Kenenisa, leads an impressive list of debutants which make up the rest of this year’s squad with Solomon Tsege, Ali Abdosh, and Gebo Burka all making their first trips to Japan for the Ekiden.
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
Ethiopia’s team for the International Chiba Ekiden
MEN
Gebregziabher Gebremariam
Abebe Dinkessa
Markos Genetti
Tariku Bekele
Solomon Tsege
Ali Abdosh
Gebo Burka
WOMEN
Meselech Melkamu
Gelete Burka.
Sentayehu Ejigu
Bizunesh Bekele
Werkitu Ayana
Derebe Alemu
Alemitu Abera
