2006

With race favourite Ibrahim Jeylan not starting it was Ethiopian 20km champion Deriba Merga who preserved the home nation's 100% record in the sixth running of Africa's largest 10km writes Elshadai Negash. In the women's race little-known runner Belaynesh Fekadu took a surprise victory over defending champion Genet Getaneh as

TOYOTA GREAT ETHIOPIAN RUN 10KM, ETHIOPIA – 26 NOVEMBER 2006 – Deriba Merga and Belaynesh FEKADU

By GRR 0

With race favourite Ibrahim Jeylan not starting it was Ethiopian 20km champion Deriba Merga who preserved the home nation’s 100% record in the sixth running of Africa’s largest 10km writes Elshadai Negash. In the women’s race little-known runner Belaynesh Fekadu took a surprise victory over defending champion Genet Getaneh as both winners smashed the course record. Young Lyneth Chepkurui equalled Kenya’s best-ever placing in this race as the 18-year old led for the final 2km but was unable to match Fekadu’s finish.
start

A leading group of eight distanced themselves from the rest of the field with four Kenyans also vying for a chance to upset the form book. At 5km Tola took the initiative and his pace dropped two runners from the pack. Three more were left behind soon afterwards so that Tola led Merga and Eshetu Wondimu. Tola and Merga dropped Wondimu with 2km to go and Merga pulled clear with 500m to go. Henry Sugut, in ninth, was the fastest non-Ethiopian.
Belaynesh Fekadu

Belaynesh Fekadu shocked defending champion Genet Getaneh and race favourite Bezunesh Bekele to take an upset victory in the women’s contest. Fekadu had finished 14th last year and started off by running behind a large leading group of nine runners. Only over the last 2km, when the pack dwindled to five runners, did she take command over the proceedings, moving behind leader Chepkurui with a kilometre to go and sprinting past the Kenyan with 500m to go.

MEN:
1 Deriba MERGA ETH 28:19
2 Tadesse TOLA ETH 28:22
3 Eshetu WONDIMU ETH 28:35
4 Tilahun REGASSA ETH 28:35
5 Kidane GEMECHU ETH 28:40
6 Wegayehu GIRMA ETH 28:45
7 Gadissa GURMU ETH 28:47
8 Tola BANE ETH 28:48
9 Henry SUGUT KEN 28:48
10 Demesew TSEGA ETH 28:50

WOMEN:
1 Belaynesh FEKADU ETH 33:03
2 Lineth CHEPKURUI KEN 33:08
3 Genet GETANEH ETH 33:14
4 Aheza KIROS ETH 33:25
5 Bezunesh BEKELE ETH 33:27
6 Emebet ETA’A ETH 33:33
7 Dire TUNE ETH 33:42
8 Ayelech WORKU ETH 33:47
9 Teyiba ERKESSO ETH 33:49
10 Makeda HAROUN ETH 34:05

courtesy:
AIMS
www.aims-association.org

author: GRR