Werknesh Kidane running the 10,000m in the 2005 Ethiopian Champs (© Markneh Lorisso)
A powerful showing by the World Cross Country short course silver medallist Werknesh Kidane was the highlight of today’s action on Day 3 of the 25th Ethiopian Championships.
The 23-year old runner, who missed out on the medals in the 2004 Athens Olympics, dominated today's women's 10,000m race throughout to take an impressive win in 32:50.54, more than fourteen seconds clear of second placed Bezunesh Bekele, with Olympic 10,000m silver medallist Ejegayehou Dibaba coming home third.
In Thursday’s other races (5 May), Defense-club runner Ubang Abaya completed a historic third men's 110m/400m Hurdles championship double winning the shorter race to add to his 400m gold on day two (Wed 4 May). Wetere Gelelcha and Atekelt Wubshet, also respectively completed doubles in the men’s and women’s flat sprints (100m/200m).
Kidane too strong for the field
But the highlight of the day’s action was Kidane’s impressive showing over the 10,000m that delighted the crowd. Despite the absence of the World champion Berhane Adere who elected to miss the championships due to other racing commitments, Kidane’s impressive front-running gave those in the stands a reminder that she is making a comeback after a disastrous 2004 season.
A leading group of four runners including Kidane, Bekele, Dibaba, and Werkitu Ayano managed to shake off the strong starting field of 22 runners by the half-way mark. While the presence of the first three was highly predictable, the determination shown by Ayano in staying with the elite runners gave the crowd something to talk about as these runners stayed together in the lead for more than four laps.
But with three laps to go, Kidane’s experience began to tell. By the 22nd lap, she was ten metres ahead of Bekele with E. Dibaba struggling behind. Kidane continued to increase her lead while Bekele held on to second place by increasing her own pace.
Kidane came into the home straight for the final time to the cheers of the fans, fellow athletes and dignitaries in the Grand Tribune, and crossed the line 32:50.54.
After the race, the diminutive runner expressed her delight in returning back to form and said that she was now ready to challenge the very best over the track this summer. “My main focus is gold in Helsinki,” she said. “But I have to qualify for the World Championships first and want to run a personal best (existing PB 30:07.26) in doing so.”
Zemedkun takes 3000m title
In the women’s 3000m, Belaynesh Zemedkun (fifth in the World Junior Cross) took advantage of the absence of Meseret Defar and Sentayehu Ejigu to take her first senior title.
A very slow race soon turned out into a battle among the country’s young runners with Genet Getaneh (winner of the 2004 Toyota Great Ethiopian Run), Zemedkun, and Tiki Gelaneh.
After four laps, there was little to choose from as Zemedkun surged forward with Rehima Kedir following her. Zemedkun never relinquished the lead crossing the finish line in a slow time of 9:30.22 with Kedir (9:31.73) and Abera 99:33.35) trotting behind to complete the standings.
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
25th Ethiopian Athletics Championships Official Results-
Day II – Wednesday 4 May 2005
Men’s Long Jump
1. Girmay Gebretsadik (Defense) 6.95m
2. Mama Ada’e (Prisons) 6.78m
3. Gezenew Meteku (Omedla) 6.75m
Women’s High Jump
1. Mekdes Bekele (Prisons) 1.48m
2. Haymanot Bekele (Prisons) 1.46m
3. Fetiha Kedir (Ethiopian Banks) 1.45m
Women’s Shot Put
1. Roman Abera (Ethiopian Banks) 11.31m
2. Selamawit Haylu (Ethiopian Banks) 10.96m
3. Zewdenesh Beshah (Prisons) 10.38m
Women’s Discus Throw
1. Mersit Gebre-egziabher (Ethiopian Banks) 36.18m
2. Alemitu Lorenso (Omedla) 32.63m
3. Frehiwot Kebede (Prisons) 30.30m
Men’s 1500m (result annulled)
Men’s Discus
1. Tsegaye Woldesenbet (Defense) 34.97m
2. Bekele Gebre (Prisons) 32.02m
3. Mohammed Ali (Defense) 31.78m
Men’s 400m Hurdles
1. Ubang Abaya (Defense) 52.40
2. Feleke Degla (Defense) 52.70
3. Solomon Tesfaye (Defense) 52.85
Men’s 100m
1. Wetere Gelelcha (Ethiopian Banks) 10.26
2. Tadesse Alemu (Defense) 10.42
3. Aman Usman (Defense) 10.58
Women’s 200m
1. Atekelt Wubshet (Ethiopian Banks) NA
2. Leaynet Alemu (Ethiopian Banks) NA
3. Netsanet Getu (Prisons) NA
Women’s 100m Hurdles
1. Netsanet Bekele (Ethiopian Banks) 16.80
2. Aynalem Demissie (Prisons) 16.98
3. Terhas Haileselassie (Ethiopian Banks) 17.29
Day III – Thursday 5 May 2005
Men’s 200m (hand-timed)
1. Wetere Gelelcha (Ethiopian Banks) 20.96
2. Eshetu Zewde (Defense) 21.46
3. Alemayehu Adebo (Ethiopian Banks) 21.53
Men’s 4x100m relay
1. Banks NA
2. Prisons NA
3. EEPCO NA
Men’s 110m Hurdles
1. Ubang Abaya (Defense) 14.67
2. Getachew Alemu (Prisons) NA
3. Yassir Kedir (Prisons) NA
Men’s Shot put
1. Tsegaye Woldesenbet (Defense) 12.70m
2. Sisay Mekonnen (Prisons) 12.45m
3. Alemu Erano (Defense) 12.35m
Women’s 100m
1. Atekelt Wubshet (Ethiopian Banks) 11.75
2. Leaynet Alemu (Ethiopian Banks) 11.95
3. Mertnesh Tesfaye (Prisons) 12.24
Women’s 400m Hurdles
1. Mendaye Lemma (Prisons) 1:01.22
2. Tadelech Erwero (Ethiopian Banks) 1:02.86
3. Terhas Haileselassie (Ethiopian Banks) 1:05.54
Women’s Long Jump
1. Emebet Tilahun (Ethiopian Banks) NA
2. Netsanet Getu (Prisons) NA
3. Tadelech Erwero (Ethiopian Banks) NA
