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Tirunesh Dibaba to double as EAF names squad for Osaka
by: Ethiopian Athletics Federation
August 9, 2007

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 season’s 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 men’s 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 Tura’s 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 men’s 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 Gebrselassie’s record of four successive victories. As in previous years, Sileshi Sihine will again be expected to increase the team’s 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 Kenya’s 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.

Women’s 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.

Men’s Marathon

The men’s 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 Ethiopia’s most natural marathon runners, Gashaw is desperate to make amends after dropping out two years ago in Helsinki.

Thirteenth-placed Gudissa Shentema was Ethiopia’s highest finisher two years ago and makes a return. Ambesse Tolossa and Dejene Berhanu will run a world championship marathon for the first time.

Ethiopian squad for the 11th IAAF World Championships in Osaka 2007
MEN EVENTS WOMEN
DERESE Mekonnen 1500M MESTAWET Tadesse
MEKONNEN Gebremedhin 1500M
ROBA Gari 3000M SC NETSANET Achamo
NAHOM Mesfin 3000M SC MEKDES Bekele
3000M SC ZEMZEM Ahmed
SILESHI Sihine 5000M TIRUNESH Dibaba
TARIKU Bekele 5000M MESERET Defar
ABRAHAM Cherkose 5000M GELETE Burka
BEKANA Daba 5000M MESELECH Melkamu
KENENISA Bekele 10000M TIRUNESH Dibaba
SILESHI Sihine 10000M MESTAWET Tufa
GEBREGZIABHER Gebremariam 10000M TEYIBA Erkesso
TADESSE Tola 10000M EJEGAYEHOU Dibaba
10000M AHEZA Kiros
GASHAW Melese Marathon ROBE Guta
DEJENE Berhanu Marathon ASKALE Tafa
AMBESSE Tolosa Marathon DURE Tune
GUDISSA Shentema Marathon ADANECH Zekiros
TESFAYE Tola Marathon SHETAYE Gemechu


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