Elite Sports Management International (ESMI) -> Profiles

Abebu GELAN

In her first year of running Abebu made a big impact on Ethiopia by earning a spot on the Ethiopian Junior team, and competed in the World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, Kenya, where she placed 13th. She later set her sight on competing in longer distance races, where she found great success. She became the first sub-20 year old female to run 67:57 in the Half-Marathon, while staying on her way to the World Junior Record at 15k in a time of 47:53. Now Abebu is looking to compete in the Marathon, hoping for great success in that event begining at the end of 2009.

Deriba MERGA

Deriba joined the world of running at a rather late age, but despite that established himself as one of the best athletes running has to offer and has made a great impact on our sport, running a 27:02 10,000m on the track, then moving to road races where under his belt he holds many victories including the 113th running of the Boston Marathon, and the New Delhi Half-Marathon where he ran a personal best. In his debut Marathon he ran 2:06.42 in Fukuoka, Japan, a very impressive time for any race, let alone a debut, showing off Deriba's tremendous talent. Recently, in his chase for a World Record Deriba ran another personal best of 27:23 10k, in Ottawa, putting him in the top-10 performances all-time at that distance. Deriba main goal this year is to podium at the World Championships in Berlin. Deriba Merga is a name we will be hearing for many years to come in the world of running.

Dire TUNE

At age 24, Dire has become the most promising young Marathon runners for years to come. She is one of the most feared Marathon competitors in the World, and has a great future ahead of her. On of the kindest people you will ever meet she has run a personal best of 2:24.30 in Houston, Texas in 2008. She then moved on to become Boston Marathon Champion, and World Record holder at the One Hour Run. She Followed her tremendous 2008 campaign with a strong start to 2009, by setting the Ethiopian National Record of 1:07:18 in RAK, and by placing 2nd at the 113th running of the Boston Marathon. Dire Has now become the second faster women to ever run the 20k on a track in a time of 1:05:35, falling short of the World Record time by only nine seconds. Her eyes are locked on a Gold Medal in the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.

Firehiwot DADO

In her short running career at the International level, Firehiwot found herself sitting at the podium in every event she competed in. In Casablanca, she was the Women's Champion for the 10k and in her Marathon debut, she placed 2nd in Kosice; only then to go on and become the Rome Marathon Champion. With all that being said, Firehiwot is a tremendous talent and runs with great passion and great ability. Firehiwot will continue on the path to victory and will work to establish herself as one of the best female Marathoners in the world.

Tadese TOLA

At the young age of 22, Tola the "city boy" as he is known in Ethiopia, due to the fact that he was born and raised in Addis Ababa; has shown tremendous talent from the track to the road, running a 27:04 at the 10,000m, representing Ethiopia at the World Championships in Osaka, Japan. From there Tola shifted his direction to compete mainly on the road in 2009. Tola is more of a silent warrior then a road running star. He approaches all of his events with a quite professionalism that rivals that of a Kobe Bryant or Tiger Woods. To Tola; running is serious business. Tola added to his resume, wins in Falmouth, Ma. and the New York Half-Marathon and San Silviestre 10k in Spain, not to mention Puy En Velay, France. Tadese has been competing mainly on the road, where in 2009 he was the Healthy Kidney 10k Champion. In winning this race Tola, broke the Central Park course record, running a time of 27:48. Tola is planning to run his first Marathon, debuting this October, and is set for a bright future.

Teyba ERKESSO

Teyba has established herself right along with the best Ethiopian athletes. Teyba has competed for her national team on many different occasions; with her best performance coming in Brussels, in Cross Country where she finished 3rd, winning a Bronze medal for Ethiopia. Since making the commitment to the Marathon, Teyba has won the Houston Marathon, breaking teammate Dire Tune's course record, and with that performance Teyba was chosen to represent Ethiopia in this summer's World Championships in Berlin. Teyba is a strong and independent women with a passion for running that is second to none. She carries a sense of pride about her and represents her country in everything she does. The sport of running expects to see big things from Erkesso in the coming years, and rightfully so.

Zemzem AHMED

In 2007, Zemzem changed her specialty from the 5,000m flat to the 3,000m Steeplechase, and with that move quickly became one of Ethiopia's most promising Steeplechasers. In 2007, she broke her own personal record three times and in 2008, she became the women's National Record holder for Ethiopia, with a time of 9:17, running this electric time at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2009, Zemzem is looking to improve on her National Record time and will be racing for a podium performance in the World Championships in Berlin. In this quest to break her own National Record time, Zemzem is her only competitor. Zemzem has an endless supply of boundless talent and can acheive any record she sets her sights on. Running will be hearing the name Zemzem ringing in its ears for a long time.