Ethiopia selects strong track and marathon delegation for Berlin

The Ethiopian Federation have entered their squad of middle and long distance runners for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin, Germany (15 – 23 August).

Defending World champions Meseret Defar, Tirunesh Dibaba, and Kenenisa Bekele plus African 10,000m record holder Meselech Melkamu have each been selected for the 5000m and 10,000m distances in Berlin but the team will not declare who will actually run in each race until the championships themselves.

Ethiopia can have four runners competing in the men’s 10,000m and women’s 5000m and 10,000m given that they have the defending champion in these races, and currently have also selected a reserve for each of these disciplines with the exception of the men’s 10,000m where only four athletes have been entered.

MEN

1500m: Derese Mekonnen, Henok Legesse, Mekonnen Gebremedhin
3000m SC: Yacob Jarso, Roba Gary, Legesse Lemiso
5000m: Kenenisa Bekele, Imane Merga, Ali Abdosh, Bekana Daba
10,000m: Kenenisa Bekele, Sileshi Sihine, Gebregziabher Gebremariam, Abebe Dinkessa
Marathon: Tsegaye Kebede, Deriba Merga, Yemane Tsegaye, Deressa Chemdessa, Dejene Berhanu, Getachew Terfe

WOMEN

1500m: Gelete Burka, Meskerem Assefa, Kalkidan Gezhagne
3000m Steeplechase: Zemzem Ahmed, Sofia Assefa, Korahubesh Itaa
5000m: Tirunesh Dibaba, Meselech Melkamu, Meseret Defar, Sentayehu Ejigu, Genzebe Dibaba
10,000m: Meselech Melkamu, Tirunesh Dibaba, Meseret Defar, Wude Ayalew, Aberu Kebede
Marathon: Teyiba Erkesso, Bezunesh Bekele, Atsede Bayissa, Asselefech Mergia, Dire Tune