Articles

Aselefech Mergia

Aselefech Mergia

January 10, 2019

John Hancock Announces 2019 Boston Marathon International Elite Field: World Marathon Champ Geoffrey Kirui, NYC Champ Lelisa Desisa, Former World Champ Edna Kiplagat, Former London Champ Aselefech Mergia Join Defending Champions

Other notables include former Boston champions Lemi Berhanu, Wesley Korir, 2:04 man Lawrence Cherono, 2015 World champ Ghirmay Ghebreslassie, former half-marathon WR holder Zersenay Tadese, 2015 World champ Mare Dibba and 2:19 woman Worknesh Degefa.
August 01, 2018

Tirunesh Dibaba Leads Field Of Five Sub-2:20 Women For The 2018 Berlin Marathon

Dibaba will be up against former two-time Berlin winner Gladys Cherono, former world champion Edna Kiplagat and Ethiopians Yebrugal Melese (2:19:36) and Aselefech Mergia (2:19:31).
January 23, 2018

2018 Dubai Marathon Women's Preview: Former Champs Worknesh Degefa & Aselefech Mergia Battle World Champs Medalists Mare Dibaba & Senbere Teferi (Debut)

The women's race in Dubai this year race boasts two sub-2:20 women and a total of six who have run under 2:23 as well as super talented debutantes Gelete Burka (10k silver at 2015 Worlds) and 22-year old Senbere Teferi (5k silver at 2015 Worlds, 14:29 pb).
August 01, 2017

2017 Worlds Women's Marathon Preview: Edna Kiplagat Tries to Make History By Winning A Third World Title

The women's field in the world championships is absurdly deep as it features 10 women who have broken 2:22.
April 21, 2017

The Greatest Women's Marathon Ever? London 2017 Is Absurdly Loaded; How Fast Will Mary Keitany Go?

The London Marathon website has called this "the best elite women’s field ever assembled," and they may be right. There are four sub-2:20 women and four more sub-2:22, including world champ Mare Dibaba, Chicago champ Florence Kiplagat and Berlin champ Aberu Kebede. Plus track studs Tirunesh Dibaba and Vivian Cheruiyot (who is making her debut).
January 17, 2017

2017 Virgin Money London Marathon Women's Elite Field: Olympic Champion Jemima Sumgong Will Face Mary Keitany, Tirunesh Dibaba, Olympic Bronze Medalist Mare Dibaba And Vivian Cheruiyot In Her Debut

The field is stacked as usual with 7 women who have ran under 2:21 and also includes Chicago champion Florence Kiplagat, Berlin winner Aberu Kebede and and former London winners Tigist Tufa (2015) and Aselefech Mergia (2010). Team USA will get some representation from Laura Thweatt and Kellyn Taylor.
November 02, 2016

2016 TCS NYC Marathon International Women's Preview: Mary Keitany Tries to Embarrass the Kenyan Selectors by Winning Third Straight Title

Can anyone stop the great Mary Keitany - a woman who has lost a grand total of 7 races over the last 8 years?
September 14, 2016

Might Dathan Ritzenhein Have A Chance To Win The 2016 NYC Marathon? We Break Down the 2016 NYC Marathon Elite Fields

We break down the fields for you and note that the men's field is short on African talent - could that open the door for a win by America's Dathan Ritzenhein? Molly Huddle will have her hands full on November 6 as Mary Keitany is looking for a 3-peat against Berlin champ Gladys Cherono, 2015 NYC runner-up Aselefech Mergia and Joyce Chepkirui.
May 19, 2016

2016 Ethiopian Olympic Marathon Team Announced - Ethiopians Leave Off World's Fastest Woman And Arguably The World's Greatest Distance Runner Ever

Galen Rupp and Meb Kefelzighi, you just caught a major break as Ethiopia definitely didn't select its three best marathoners for its Olympic team. Kenenisa Bekele is staying home as is women's world leader Tirfi Tsegaye. *MB: Ethiopian marathon team announced: Picks are as debatable as Kenya's.
April 22, 2016

2016 London Marathon Women's Preview: #1 vs. #2: The Showdown Between The World's Top Two Marathoners (Mare Dibaba and Mary Keitany) Headlines Totally Loaded Field

Dibaba and Keitany were 1-2 in LRC's 2015 World Rankings and they'll be joined by three others in the top seven, including defending champ Tigist Tufa, 2010 champ Aselefech Mergia and Chicago champ/HM WR holder Florence KiplagatSara Hall will also compete in a race that holds major Olympic implications for Kenya, Ethiopia and GB.
January 12, 2016

Insanely Good Women's Field Announced For 2016 Virgin Money London Marathon - Is This Race Tougher To Win Than The 2016 Olympics?

Once again, London has secured an amazing field with five women who have run under 2:20 and eight under 2:21. All of the top 5 from our 2015 World Rankings are in the field including the winners of 2015 Dubai, London, Berlin, Chicago, New York and Worlds marathons.
December 30, 2015

2015 LRC Year-End Rankings, Women's Marathon: Mare Dibaba Is World #1 (Barely); Desi Linden Leads Americans

Mare Dibaba broke 2:20 and won Worlds this year so she deserves to be #1, particularly when you factor in she was also 2nd in Boston. Speaking of Boston, there, Desi Linden ran the fastest time on the year for the US and placed the highest of any American in a major this year.
October 28, 2015

2015 TCS NYC Marathon Women's Preview: Defending Champ Mary Keitany Leads A Loaded Field

Keitany has been running great since returning from her second pregnancy last year, but she'll have her hands full on Sunday. Aselefech Mergia (Dubai), Caroline Rotich (Boston) and Tigist Tufa (London) have all won major marathons this year, plus the field includes 2013 champ Priscah Jeptoo, two-time runner-up Buzunesh Deba and debutante Sally Kipyego. *MB: 2015 NYC Marathon Women's Race - Who you got in loaded womens' field led by Mary Ketiany?
April 26, 2015

Video Highlights of 2015 London Marathon

Video highlights.

April 26, 2015

Forget About The Kenyan "Fantastic Four," Ethiopia And Tigist Tufa Reign Supreme In London

Tigist Tufa was a 2:40 marathoner 2 years ago. Now she's London champ.

April 24, 2015

Women's London Marathon Preview: The "Fantastic Four" Lead A Great Field

Former champs Mary KeitanyPriscah Jeptoo and Edna Kiplagat and HM WR holder Florence Kiplagat take on Dubai champ Aselefech Mergia and 2014 World #1, Tirfi Tsegaye.

January 24, 2015

Haile Gebrselassie's Classic Call of the Incredible Women's Finish at the Dubai Marathon

Haile G may have a future in broadcasting.