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Tirunesh Dibaba to double
as EAF names squad for Osaka Double world 5000m and one-time
world 10000m champion Tirunesh Dibaba will defend both her titles as
the Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EAF) today announced its strong
squad of 33 athletes for the 11th IAAF World Championships
in Osaka, Japan (25 August- 2 September 2007). The squad, which comprises
of 16 men and 17 women, has been selected based on the performances
of athletes in the IAAF qualification period of January 1 2006 to August
13 2007. Middle Distance In the selection over the 1500m,
three athletes have been picked by selectors of the EAF after fulfilling
the IAAF qualification A standard time. A fourth athlete, Gelete Burka,
has chosen to focus only on the 5000m despite running the seasons
fifth fastest time in the world in 2007. Of the two men in the squad,
Mekonnen Gebremedhin has previous major championship experience
having been part of Ethiopian world youth (2003) and junior (2006) squads
in the past. The 18-year old has improved his personal twice in two
weeks in July eventually to 3:36.04 in Heusden-Zolder, Belgium. Derese Mekonnen will
take with him to Osaka a commendable fourth place finish in the All-African
Games 1500m final. Mestawet Tadesse is
the only woman middle distance runner in the team. Steeplechase Ethiopian runners have broken
record ground this year with five runners (3 women and 2 men) achieving
the IAAF qualification A standard for the first time. The mens squad is a unique
balance between experience and form. National junior record holder
Nahom Mesfin has major championship experience with fourth in the
2006 IAAF World Junior Championships and bronze in the All-African Games.
Roba Gari came only two seconds off Eshetu Turas 27-year old
national record earlier this year as he improved his personal best from
8:31 (Addis Ababa stadium record) to 8:15.05 in Brazzaville, Congo in
the space of only one month. Of the three women in the squad,
Netsanet Achamo, fourth in the African Championships last year in
Mauritius, will be buoyed by her national record time of 9:28.03 earlier
this year after winning the national championships in a 10.01 in May. World junior bronze medallist
Mekdes Bekele has competed well in the international circuit including
a race with current world record holder Gulnara Samitova in Moscow,
Russia. Zemzem Ahmed, an athlete running for the Ethiopian Banks
club, will be happy with a place in the squad after securing her place
with only ten days before selectors announced their final squad. 5000m Ethiopian women took the first
four places in the last world championships and this squad has equal
potential of repeating the feat this year in Osaka. Tirunesh Dibaba
qualifies as the defending champion and will come up against her compatriot
Meseret Defar in a repeat of the epic Golden League showdowns of
2006. While Tirunesh has focused mainly on training and limited competition,
Meseret has enjoyed a phenomenal season where she sliced nearly eight
seconds off the world 5000m in Oslo and took victory in the All-African
Games 5000m final. Her closest opponent on that
occasion, Meselech Melkamu, will continue to knock the door on
the top two with Gelete Burka also lying in the wings. Meseret,
Meselech, Gelete own three of the four fastest times in the world this
year. The mens 5000m is composed
of two members of the squad that took gold and silver in the last world
junior championships in Beijing, China in August 2006. Champion Tariku
Bekele has come in leaps and bounds since his runaway victory in
the Chinese capital and will compete in his second world championships
after finishing seventh two years ago in Helsinki. Silver medallist Abraham
Cherkose is regarded by many as the new protégée of Ethiopian
distance running. The 18-year old, who is legible to compete in the
world junior championships in 2008, holds world youth records over the
3000m and 5000m. Joining the duo in the team
is Bekana Daba, winner of the 5000m title at the All-Ethiopian
Games in March. After an up-and-down season, Bekana clinched his place
in the team after beating strong opponents in Braaschart, Belgium in
July. Defending world silver medallist
Sileshi Sihine has been named a reserve in case any of the above
runners should pull out. 10000m Ethiopian men have not won gold over the 10000m only once since 1991 and that record should continue once again this year. Back to defend his world title
is Kenenisa Bekele as he chases a third successful world outdoor
title that will put him within touching distance of Haile Gebrselassies
record of four successive victories. As in previous years, Sileshi
Sihine will again be expected to increase the teams medal chances
and provide competition for Kenenisa. Gebregziabher Gebremariam,
the 2005 national champion, returns after recording an impressive personal
best time of 26:52.33, while Tadesse Tola, the 2007 national
champion and All-African Games silver medallist, will again provide
strong competition. Ethiopia will also field four
women runners in Osaka. Tirunesh Dibaba leads the way with a
title defence, but the encouraging form of Mestawet Tufa should
help ally any medal fears. Mestawet leads the world this
year with an impressive 31:00.27, but even more impressive was her victory
in the All-African Games where she handily beat Kenyas Edith Masai.
Defending world bronze medallist Ejegayehou Dibaba will hope
to put an injury-plagued season behind her, while Ahaza Kiros
and Teyiba Erkesso will vie for the last remaining spot. Womens Marathon Rather surprisingly, Ethiopian
women have never won a world championship marathon medal. An interesting
mix of a young crop and an experienced breed now aim to work to put
an end to that statistic in Osaka. The youth is provided primarily
by Askale Tafa, Roba Guta, and Dire Tune. Askale
boasts an impressive 100% winning over the marathon since September
2006 winning marathons in Dubai and Paris. Guta is the fastest in the
field with a personal best of 2:24.35, while Dire Tune is a recent winner
of Houston Marathon in 2:26.52. The experience in the team
is provided by Shetaye Gemechu, a two-time Olympian, while
Adanech Zekiros completes the line-up. Mens Marathon The mens squad is also a
mix of youth and experience. Sydney Olympics bronze medallist Tesfaye
Tola makes a surprising return this year to add experience to the
team. Gashaw Melese is the fastest in the field this year with
his second place finish in Paris. Regarded as one of Ethiopias most
natural marathon runners, Gashaw is desperate to make amends after dropping
out two years ago in Helsinki. Thirteenth-placed Gudissa
Shentema was Ethiopias highest finisher two years ago and makes
a return. Ambesse Tolossa and Dejene Berhanu will run
a world championship marathon for the first time.
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