Kenyan Man, Ethiopian Woman Win 33rd LA Marathon

Weldon Kirui of Kenya was the men's winner in Sunday's 33rd annual Los Angeles Marathon, while Sule Utura Gedo of Ethiopia was the women's winner.

Kirui, the 2016 champion, completed the 26-mile, 385-yard "Stadium to the Sea" course in two hours, 11 minutes, 48 seconds, nine seconds ahead of Gebresadik Adihana of Ethiopia.

Elisha Barno of Kenya, the 2017 champion, was third in 2:12.57.

Utura Gedo was the women's winner in 2:33:52, six seconds ahead of countrywoman Tsehay Desalegn. Hellen Jepkurgat of Kenya, the 2017 women's winner, was third in 2:34:03.

The men's race has been won by a Kenyan every year since 1999, except for 2011 and 2014, when it was won by Ethiopians. A U.S. runner last won in 1994.

African women have won seven of the last nine races, with runners from the former Soviet Union winning the other two times. A U.S. runner last won the women's race in 1994.

Kirui passed Adihana in the 19th mile in West Los Angeles and led for the rest of the race.

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Utura Gedo took the women's lead from Desalegn in the final mile.

The race, from Dodger Stadium to the Santa Monica oceanfront, has a purse of $100,000, with equal prize money for men and women. The top five male and female finishers will receive prize money.

The winners will each receive $23,000, the runners-up $11,250 and third-place finishers $9,000.

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A field estimated by organizers at 24,000 began the race at Dodger Stadium just before 7 a.m. The Los Angeles Marathon annually has the fourth-largest field among U.S. marathons, and 10th largest worldwide.

There was one change to the 26-mile, 385-yard course from last year's race. Miles 3-4 bypassed Little Tokyo. Instead, runners headed south on Los Angeles Street into the Toy District.

Organizers expected the race's 75 official charities to raise more than $4 million from the race.Read more here

Ethiopia's Dibaba shines at world indoors, America's Coleman could be the next Usain Bolt

Christian Coleman looked every inch the natural successor to Usain Bolt as the fastest man in athletics, sweeping in a blur to a majestic 60 metres victory at the world indoor championships on Saturday.

A night of remarkable drama at Arena Birmingham saw Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba win her second gold in three days in the 1,500 metres while Czech Pavel Maslak won his third 400 metres crown after a sensational double disqualification.

The next Usain Bolt?

Yet it was the 21-year-old American Coleman, winner of two silvers at last year’s world outdoor championships in London, who hogged centre stage, following up his world record of 6.34 seconds set last month with an emphatic win in 6.37 seconds.

I have a good chance to lead the sport in the post-Bolt era but like I’ve told so many others, loads of guys have the talent

It was the joint second fastest sprint in history, ensuring that the Atlanta flyer, the fastest man at 100 metres in 2017, has now run the three quickest times ever at the shorter distance.

“I have a good chance to lead the sport in the post-Bolt era but like I’ve told so many others, loads of guys have the talent,” the modest Coleman said after beating China’s Su Bingtian (Asian record 6.42) and U.S. colleague Ronnie Baker (6.44) to the big prize.

Peerless Dibaba

The peerless Ethiopian Dibaba, who had lifted the 3,000 metres title on Thursday, had her work cut out to achieve the double in the metric mile but produced another solo tour de force.

I am speechless, double gold! So happy!!! pic.twitter.com/9Yyp8qPCeA

— Genzebe Dibaba (@GenzebeD) March 3, 2018

Stretching her pursuers to breaking point by powering for home with almost a kilometre left, the 27-year-old kept Britain’s silver medallist Laura Muir and Dutch defending champion Sifan Hassan at bay to win convincingly in four minutes 05.27 seconds.

It made her only the fourth athlete ever to win five individual gold medals in the championships.

“Last year I was sick (when finishing out of the medals at the world outdoor championships in London) but this time I was ready to run for my country,” she said.“This is a gold for all the people of Ethiopia.”

Dibaba helped Ethiopia to the second position on the medals table with a total of 5 medlas, with Team USA leading the medal standings with 18. Read more here

Great Ethiopian Run has record 48,000 participants

ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 12 (Xinhua) - Africa's largest road race, the Great Ethiopian Run (GER), will have 6,000 more runners for a record of 48,000 participants, an Ethiopian official said on Thursday.

Race Director Ermias Ayele said the 10km race, which will be held on November 26, will be a part of GER's efforts to promote healthy lifestyle and running among the Ethiopian public.

"The GER 2017 edition will have 44,000 adult runners and 4,000 child runners and feature a 10 day exhibition preceding the actual road race," he said.

The 10 kms Great Ethiopian Run was started in 2001 by Ethiopian running legend Haile Gebreselassie as part of his efforts to turn running from an elite sport stars sports into a hobby of the masses. Read more here

Offaly man to represent The Midlands in the Great Ethiopian Run

HE WILL BE JOINED BY 20 SUPPORTERS OF IRISH DEVELOPMENT CHARITY GORTA-SELF HELP AFRICA

Renowned Midlands charity fundraiser Eamon Martin will fly the Irish flag for a good cause,  when he travels to Ethiopia to take part in Africa’s biggest road race, this Autumn.

Eamon, from Killurin, Offaly, will be joined by 20 supporters of Irish development charity Gorta-Self Help Africa, when he jets off for this year’s edition of the popular Great Ethiopian Run in the heart of the country’s capital, Addis Ababa.

Eamon has raised hundreds of thousands of euro for a variety of local and international charities over the years, and is appealing to the Midlands community to support his latest charitable quest. 

Gorta-Self Help Africa has been implementing agricultural development projects in Ethiopia for more than 30 years, and is currently supporting more than half a million rural poor households in sub-Saharan Africa to grow more food and earn more from their small farms.Read more here

Ethiopia 1 Sudan 1

Walias of Ethiopia

Hawassa – Ethiopia and Sudan played to a 1-1 draw  in  the Total African Nations Championship (CHAN) Kenya 2018 first leg clash here today.

Saifeldeen scored for the Sudan first in the 76th minute and Abdurahman Mubarak leveled the score for Ethiopia seven minutes later. This was Mubarak’s first international goal.

The two teams will play the return leg match in Sudan next week.

Elsewhere in Nouakchott, Mauritania were held to a 2-2 draw by visiting Mali, in a game which saw all four goals in the first half.

Mandala Konte put Mali up in the opening minute before Abdoulaye Gaye converted a penalty to level matters on nine minutes. Samba Moussa ensured Mauritania went up for the first time on the quarter-hour mark only for Aboubacar Diarra to draw even on 21 minutes.

‘Les Etalons’ of Burkina Faso came from behind twice to hold neighbours Ghana to a 2-2 draw in Ouagadougou. The Black Stars went up on 14 minutes courtesy Sadick Adams from the spot.

Mohamed Sylla levelled for the Burkinabes on 55 minutes but their joy was cut short ten minutes later, when Gideon Waja restored Ghana’s lead. Ilasse Sawadogo grabbed the equalizer six minutes from time setting the stage for crucial duel in the return leg on Sunday, 20 August 2017, in Kumasi. Read more here

Ethiopian Team Tact Floors Farah, Kenya Miss Out

By Timothy Olobulu

Nairobi — A well executed team tact by the Ethiopian athletes in the 5,000m floored home boy and crowd favorite Mo Farah on his final goodbye racing on track for Great Britain, 2012 World Junior Champion Muktar Edris picking gold with Farah coming home second for silver.

Kenya entirely missed out on a medal with the only representative Cyrus Rutto crossing the finish line 13th after losing out on gas in the final two laps of an electric race.

A huge dip of strength by Edris saw him cross the line in 13:32.79 with a striving Farah only managing silver in a time of 13:33.22. Kenyan-born American Paul Chelimo, Rio 2016 silver medalist came through for the bronze just dipping past Kejelcha who was fourth.

A lover of sports who seeks to tell the African story in an African way. Top ten finalist of the Abu Dhabi Sports Media Pearl Awards. Be it on the pitch, court, track, pool or course, the story will be told. Read more here

CAF President Ahmad Visits Ethiopia

CAF President Ahmad has arrived in Ethiopia to visit sports facilities and interact with stakeholders towards the development of football.

He arrived in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, on Sunday upon completion of his three-day official visit to Burkina Faso.

The CAF President commenced his Ethiopia mission on Monday, 7 August 2017, with the Youth and Sports Academy his first point of call. He was accompanied by CAF Executive Committee member, Souleiman Hassan Waberi and the Ethiopian Minister of Youth and Sports, Erestu Yirda.

“I am happy to be here. We need more and more of such facilities. CAF is willing to support football development not only financially but technically too. Our main target is to develop African football”, he said after a tour of the facilities at the Youth and Sports Academy.

His next stop was the Addis Ababa National Stadium, which construction started in 2013. The 60,000-capacity stadium, built strictly to FIFA and CAF standards is 77 per cent complete, and should be ready to host games by June 2018 according to the Project Manager.

The Ethiopian Minister of Youth and Sports commended the CAF President on the visit adding the Government is committed to building new facilities to serve the sporting needs of the continent.

“Your visit confirms your interest to develop football. The stadium will be ready not only for Ethiopia, but also Africa and the global football family. This clearly shows how committed and willing to go forward as a society,” Yirda said.

CAF President Ahmad summed his tour with a visit to the CAF Centre of Excellence located in CMC, a suburb of the capital, Addis Ababa.

“The idea of the project started in 2003 when CAF took the decision to build three Technical Centres in Cameron, Ethiopia and Senegal. The Ethiopian Government allocated a plot of 50,000-square metres and facilitated the work by allowing the workers and logistics free of charge to CAF, after signing of the MoU between CAF and the Ethiopian Government.

“CAF started the construction eight years later when we signed the new MOU which says that the academy will be built in two phases. The First Phase is already done with the building the fence and two blocks, and we are looking forward to the second phase,” said Sahlu Gebrewold Gebremariam, the Director of the academy.

“CAF will continue supporting but we have to know that with the new reforms we won’t go forward until we know where we are standing and how the monies have been spent. Our auditing team will do the reports and based on that CAF will take the next step. This will not be applied only here but also everything related to CAF and African football for the sake of transparency and the game,” said Ahmad.

The CAF President is expected to meet Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, later in the day to wrap up his tour.

Source: CAF

Exiled Ethiopia athlete, Feyisa Lilesa, keeps running, winning and protesting

Feyisa Lilesa, went to the 2016 Olympic Games to represent his native Ethiopia. He has since not returned to the country for fear of arrest, imprisonment and torture.

He won a silver medal in Rio but more than the medal his gesture at the end of his race is what made the biggest news. As he crossed the line after his 42-kilometer race, Lilesa crossed his hands above his head – a protest sign by the Oromo people back home.

After Rio, he sought for and was granted asylum in the United States and has been living there since leaving Rio. He was reunited with his family later – after his wife and two kids flew to join him in the States.

If I would’ve taken my medal and went back to Ethiopia, that would’ve been the biggest regret of my life. I wanted to be a voice for a story that wasn’t getting any coverage.

Despite his inability to return home, he continues to participate in marathons across the world.

His most recent feat was winning the 18th edition of the Bogota half marathon in Colombia, and after crossing the line in a time of 1: 04: 30 he again showed the anti-government gesture.

Feyisa Lilesa won the 2017 Bogota Half Marathon-crossing his wrists above his head at the finish line to protest against #Ethiopia-n govt.

— Mohammed Ademo (@OPride) July 30, 2017

He run in the name of Ethiopia and by winning, ensured that the title still bore an Ethiopian flag. The winner last year was fellow national, Tadese Tola. Tola broke a Kenyan dominance that spanned five years (2011 – 2015.)

Prior to Bogota, he had failed to make a mark at the London marathon where he promised to continue his protest against the government in Addis Ababa.

Clearly, the 27-year-old seems to enjoy running – far from home and on the tracks, winning and protesting in solidarity with other Oromos who remain in Ethiopia.

He has previously said returning home would have been his biggest regret in life even though the authorities said he was free to do so. He told the AP news agency that he wanted to be the voice of those suffering back home.

“If I would’ve taken my medal and went back to Ethiopia, that would’ve been the biggest regret of my life. I wanted to be a voice for a story that wasn’t getting any coverage.”

He also took part in the London marathon months back even though he failed to make a mark he stated at the time that he would continue protesting against the government. He has also previously appeared before the European Union parliament along with a leading opposition chief, Dr. Merera Gudina.

Gudina was arrested last December after returning from Brussels. He is currently in jail facing terrorism charges. He categorically denies all the charges. He is charged along with two other persons.

Lilesa, was named among the 2016 top 100 global thinkers by the US based Foreign Policy (FP) magazine. He was classed in the group of thinkers called “the challengers.”

Under the title, “For breaking the rules of the games,” FP wrote about Feyisa: “Given the fact that the Olympic Charter bans political propaganda, demonstrations are a rarity at the games. Nevertheless, Ethiopian runner Feyisa Lilesa snubbed the rulebook in order to call attention to the brutal actions of his country’s security forces.

“As the marathoner approached the finish line in second place, he crossed his arms over his head—an attention-grabbing gesture to show solidarity with his Oromo tribe. In the weeks before the race, the Ethiopian government had cracked down on protests by the embattled indigenous group and killed dozens.” Read more here

Kenenisa Bekele Not On Ethiopian World Team, Says He's Not Fit

The Ethiopian Athletics Federation announced their official contingent for the upcoming IAAF World Championships in London from August 4-13 today with the notable exception of three-time Olympic gold medalist Kenenisa Bekele, who was expected to race the marathon.

The 35-year-old, who holds the world records in the 5K and 10K, told an Ethiopian media outlet that he was "not fit to compete at the event." Bekele removed himself from consideration for selection.

Bekele was also left off the Ethiopian team for the 2016 Rio Olympics, as he failed to achieve the time standard in the 10K and the Ethiopian federation felt he "had not run enough big races over the past year" to earn a spot in the marathon, despite taking third in 2:06 at the London Marathon in April. He did not race in 2015.

He won the Berlin Marathon last September in 2:03:03, barely behind Dennis Kimetto's world record of 2:02.57. Bekele announced his intent to break Kimetto's world record this year, but his two attempts were thwarted: he fell at the start of the Dubai Marathon and later dropped out, then ran 2:05.57 at the London Marathon for second place behind Daniel Wanjiru.

Other items of note on the Ethiopian roster:

- Genzebe Dibaba will double in the 1500m and 5K, the same feat she pulled off to a gold and bronze medal, respectively, in 2015. She also set the 1500m world record at 3:50.07 in 2015.

- Almaz Ayana, who set the 10K world record en route to gold at the Rio Games, will double in the 5K and 10K. She is the defending world champion over 5K but has not raced in 2017 due to injury. Read more here

Ethiopian runner Abebech Bekele breaks Gold Coast Marathon women’s record

THE Gold Coast Marathon has enhanced its reputation as one of the world’s elite races after Ethiopia’s Abebech Bekele took the women’s race into new territory with her 2hr 25min 34sec win.

Bekele’s time was the fourth fastest alltime in Australia, with only the Sydney Olympic medallists bettering her effort.

Bekele and Kenya’s Mercy Kibarus went through the halfway mark locked together but Bekele made her decisive move soon after and had established a 20sec lead by the time the runners passed 25km.

Bekele had hoped to finish in 2:24 but used every ounce of energy to win, becoming physically ill after the finish and taking several minutes to recover before addressing the media.

“I was well prepared to win this race and I’m happy I won today and I’m so glad,” Bekele said of her ability to make the pace for so long.

“The conditions were good but I was well prepared and had done a lot of training and that made me win today.

“I was planning to finish in 2:24 but I’m happy.”

Bekele snared $30,000 for her efforts - $20,000 for the race win and another $10,000 for breaking Misato Horie’s 2016 race record.

While Erico Asai’s record of 2:29.29 stood untouched for 20 years before Yukiko Akaba (2:27.17) broke it in 2013, the record was bettered again last year by Horie before Bekele broke it again yesterday, smashing a five-year stranglehold by Japanese women.

But it’s not the end for Bekele, who hopes to push further towards the 2:20 barrier.

“After this I will do the best training and then I’m trying to be successful with 2:20-2:21, that’s my aim,” she said of a mark that would put her among the world’s best.

Bekele finished ahead of Kibarus and Japan’s Risa Takenaka, whose husband Takuya Noguchi won the men’s title yesterday.

Takenaka was thrilled when she learnt post-race that Noguchi had broken the 2:09 barrier, although she was aware before she crossed the line that he had won.

“Part way through, somebody shouted: ‘your husband just won’ and I was like, ‘really?’

“And my coach told me, ‘you’re both going to be on the podium’, so I was very happy about that.”

In an outstanding result for Australia, Virginia Moloney finished fifth, setting a Commonwealth Games qualifier with her 2:29.14 effort.

The result leaves her ninth on the Australian alltime list but Moloney is not talking up her chances of wearing green and gold on the Gold Coast next year.

“At the moment there’s so many girls faster than me, I’ve got to be realistic, but (sub 2:30) was our goal,” the Victorian said.

“(The Games qualifier is 2:45) but realistically, with such strong competition, you’ve really got to go under 2:30.

“I think we’ll have to try and do better than that again.” Read more here

Gold Coast Marathon 2017 action

Gold Coast Marathon

Five-Star Ghana hammer Ethiopia 5-0 in 2019 AFCON qualifier

Black Stars (Photo credit: Images Image)

Kwasi Appiah made a five-star start to his competitive tenure as Black Stars coach guiding the senior national team to a 5-0 win over Ethiopia in their 2019 AFCON Group F opener at the Baba Yara Stadium.

The Stars dominated the one-sided tie from Start to finish with debutants striker Raphael Dwamena, winger Thomas Agyepong and fullback Lumor Agbenyenu impressing.

Black Stars skipper, Asamoah Gyan opened the floodgates in the 10th minute when he glanced home a header into the net off an Ethiopian defender.

The goal came from an assist by tricky left winger Agyepong who floated in a cross for Gyan's 50th goal in the colours of the senior national team.

The Ethiopians were yet to recover from the early setback when striker Dwamena knocked down a ball for defender John Boye who controlled before firing high-up into the corner of the net in the 14th minute.

The pick of the goals was scored with the game inching close to halftime in the 41st minute when midfielder Ebenezer Ofori cut in on his left foot and rifled home a fierce long-range shot into the top corner of the net.

After a delayed restart to the second half, the Stars continued to dominate the Ethiopians and scored their fourth in the 48th minute through Dwamena prodded home from close-range after the Ethiopian keeper saved a Dede Ayew shot.

The FC Zurich striker who wasted some opportunities completed his brace in the 60th minute with a poachers effort after an Ethiopian goalkeeping howler from a cross by Agbenyenu.

The massive 5-0 result moved the Black Stars to the top of the AFCON 2019 Group F qualifiers on goal difference.

The Stars and Sierra Leone both have three points each after the latter defeated Kenya 2-1 on Saturday in the other Group F clash.Read more here

Rosemary Wanjiru comes second as Ethiopia's Diriba wins women 3000m championship

Ethiopia's Buze Diriba won the women's 3,000 metres at the Boost Boston Games track and field meeting on Friday night with a winning time of eight minutes, 45.44 seconds.

Diriba, who placed fifth in the 5,000m at the 2013 Moscow World Championship, shattered Rosemary Wanjiru's previous fastest time of 2017 by six seconds.

Wanjiru set her time of 8:51.61 in Tokyo in April.

Diriba edged runner-up Kenya's Sheila Chepkirui who finished in 8:45.94. Ethiopian Gotytom Gebreslase was well back in third at 8:58.88.

According to Supersport, Ethiopian long distance runner Muktar Edris also put on an incredible performance in the men's 5000m. He won in a time of 13:01.04 just off Mo Farah's world best so far in 2017 of 13:00.70 set last weekend in Eugene, Oregon. Farah won the 5,000m and 10,000m at both the 2012 and 2016 Olympics. Read more here

Okpekpe 5th road race for re-industrializing Africa

Marathoners competes in the previous edition of the 10 kilometer Okpekpe International Road Race

The 2017 (5th edition) of the Okpekpe international 10km road race held last Saturday May 13, 2017, in Okpekpe, town, Etsako East Local Government Area of Edo State, Nigeria. Special commendation to the organizers of the annual international sports event in particular, my dear friend, Mr. Mike Itermagbor, the private initiator of Okpekpe public/private partnership competition brand. 

Yours comradely has been privileged to be part of this singular (West) African race since inception in 2012. Thanks to my association and comradeship with the grand patron, two-term NLC president, two-term governor, 5th term front runner of the race, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. 

Everybody hailed Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, who built the hitherto neglected 25 kilometers long road during his first term as Governor of Edo State. The road was commissioned by APC Presidential Candidate Muhammadu Buhari in 2015. Special commendation must go to his successor, Governor Godwin Obaseki for taking the race to a higher level.  Okpekpe international 10km road race is a practical dividend of sustainable development and good governance. 

Oshiomhole’s words last Saturday: “I’m happy that the program has outlived my own tenure of office and that is the way it should be. It has direct impact on the social economic and commercial life, not only on this part of the country but for the people of Edo State. The inflow of internationals due to the race will provide the necessary exposure for Okpekpe and Edo state to develop even further”.  

Today, Okpekpe international 10km road race organized by Pamodzi Sports Marketing is the only road race in Nigeria that is recognized by both the (International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS). 

This year’s edition assumed special importance. Beyond  the race for prize, 2017 edition provides for participation for other noble causes namely; orphanage, women empowerment, cancer and the cause championed  by yours sincerely - re-industrialisation of African Continent. A lot of dignitaries graced the event and also participated in the race to create awareness for cancer, run for orphanage or to re-industrialize the country. Governor Godwin Obaseki’s wife Betsy and Oshiomhole’s wife, Iara promoted noble causes of women empowerment and orphanage respectively. As the Vice President of IndustriALL Global Union, I led the over two hundred workers - members of some of the Nigerian affiliate unions of IndustriALL global union who with captioned T-shirts and banners  participated in the race for re-industrializing Africa. 

IndustriALL Global Union with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, represents 50 million workers in 140 countries in the manufacturing and mining, energy sectors for better working conditions and trade union rights around the world. Africa is a wealthy continent, blessed with an abundance of raw materials. Yet Africans don’t profit from this, because value is added further up the supply chain, after we keep on misguidedly export the raw materials. Nigeria is a classic case; crude oil is exported, while refined petroleum products are imported, in the process millions of jobs are exported in a country with 50 per cent unemployment. South Africa and Ghana have abundant gold, platinum and diamond. They export them in raw forms while importing jewelries. Nigeria exports cotton and imports assorted smuggled fabrics. Africa unacceptably lacks comprehensive industrial policy. Its time Africa added value to its abundant raw materials through comprehensive beneficiation/value addition programmes that would create millions of sustainable decent jobs. 

Africans need to industrialize their economies to create quality, sustainable jobs, and lift people out of poverty. For industrialization to succeed, we need infrastructure: effective transport and communication networks, reliable electricity supplies, anti-smuggling policy and a transparent regulatory framework. Africans must produce what they consume, consume what they produce.  This requires intervention and coordination by the African governments at all levels and also by regional and continental bodies. It also provided an opportunity to acknowledge and commend the Federal government’s diversification policy. Recently Federal government declared Mondays and Wednesdays every week, as Made-in-Nigeria Dress Days across the country “as part of measures to uplift the nation’s culture and promote Made-in-Nigeria textile products”. Patronage of local fabrics and indeed all locally produced goods should be every day’s commitment for 180 million buyers. Africans must wear what they produce and produce what they wear. 

Inspired and energized by IndustriALL’s goal of ensuring Sustainable Industrial Development, African affiliates have taken industrial policy issues to government and employers on the urgent need for beneficiation and value addition in Africa. The race is part of the efforts to build a momentum around 2017 Africa Industrialization Day on November 20 through mass demonstrations and policy engagement with the Ministries of Trade and Investment in Africa. Minister of Sports Solomon Dalung was for once a star guest at this year’s edition with his added voice to IndustriALL’s Campaign. Witness him: “I concur with the movement of industrialization and diversification of the Nigerian economy. Without industrialization, there is no way we can move forward. With this I associate with the campaign of workers and as one of you ...I also want to lend my voice that we must industrialize Nigeria. Forward ever, Backward never.”

It is now an open knowledge that Ethiopian duo of Luel Gebrasilasis and Azmera Gebru, emerged winners in the male and female categories. The fastest Nigerian female athlete in the race, Deborah Pam, finished in 38 minutes, 15 seconds and was followed by Elizabeth Nuhu from Nasarawa State in 38 minutes, 41 seconds, while Rose Ajusho came third in 38 minutes, 55 seconds. Read more here

Ethiopian runner wins Prague Marathon

PRAGUE, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Prague Marathon 2017 was held in Prague, Czech Republic with Abraha Gebretsadik from Ethiopia and Aiyabei Valary Jemeli from Kenya winning the men's and women's events respectively on Sunday.

Abraha won the men's event with 2:08:47, and Aiyabei won the women's contest with a track record 2:21:57 which is 37 seconds faster than the previous track record achieved by her compatriot, Lydia Cheromei, in 2011.

In the men's category, Bazu Worku finished second, followed by Mekuant Ayenew, both of them are from Ethiopia. In the women's category, Ethiopians Amane Beris and Tadeleh Bekele finished second and third. Read more here

Ethiopia line up Uganda friendly

Ethiopia will take on Uganda in an international friendly on June 3 in Addis Ababa as both sides prepare for their opening fixtures in the Afcon 2019 qualifiers.

The Walia Ibex were drawn in Group F along with four-time African champions Ghana, neighbours Kenya and Sierra Leone.

Newly appointed Ethiopia head coach Ashenafi Bekele in an exclusive interview with supersport.com said, “Playing against Uganda will give us very good preparation for our game against Ghana. The Cranes are a top side in African football especially if you see the events of the past two years.”

“They have players who play at a high level and will give us a very good challenge. Last year, they held Ghana to a goalless draw in Tamale which goes to show you their quality.”

Bekele, who is keen on qualifying Ethiopia to Afcon for the first time since 2013 when they ended a 31-year old jinx, understands the importance of kicking off the campaign on a high note.

Playing against Ghana away from home will call for precision and determination from the Walia Ibex whose last fixture was last September in a 2-1 win over Seychelles in the Afcon 2017 qualifiers.

Meanwhile, Ghana played at Afcon 2017 in Gabon and reached the semifinals for a sixth consecutive time, a rather consistent feat that has seen them maintain their place among the top teams in African football.

However, with St George competing in the Caf Champions League group stages against the reigning African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, 2014 finalists AS Vita and 2007 winners Etoile du Sahel in Group C, several of Bekele’s players will be up against top opposition.

Ethiopia will ultimately be looking to qualify for Afcon 2019 in Cameroon but Read more here

ETHIOPIANS AIMING TO DOMINATE THE OTTAWA MARATHON ONCE MORE

Waving flags, ear-piercing ululations and other celebratory expressions have greeted the Ethiopian winners of the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon these past several years as their supporters have come out en masse for the IAAF Gold Label Road Race.

Ethiopian women have won the past seven editions of the Ottawa Marathon, while their male compatriots have built up a four-year streak. That dominance could well continue at this year’s race on 28 May.

“There are so many things I like about Canada but simply the city of Ottawa is so beautiful with amazing people,” says defending champion Koren Jelela. “What I remember most about Ottawa last year is that the weather was so heavy – it was windy and cloudy – and we Ethiopians finished 1-2-3 in the women’s race.

“But the support of Ethiopians in the crowd, I remember, made me so happy and proud that we all have got these results and made those other people happy. I was so sure all the hard work was worth it.”

Jelela, who set a Canadian all-comers’ record of 2:22:43 in Toronto six years ago, trains under coach Gemedu Hailemariam alongside sub-2:21 performers Aselefech Mergia, Aberu Kebede, Tirfi Tsegaye, Feyse Tadese, Shure Demise and Amane Beriso.

“They have a great respect for Ottawa,” Jelela says of her training partners. “Also for Toronto. It was won two times by our team member, Shure Demise, so we all work hard to get the best result in Canada.”

At the moment Jelela is running roughly 180 kilometres each week at altitudes of between 2500m and 2800m with the intention of retaining her Ottawa title. Victory isn’t a foregone conclusion, however.

A year ago she easily handled the competition, which included 2015 winner Aberu Mekuria, stretching her winning margin to nearly three minutes by the finish. Now Mekuria is also returning with revenge in mind.

The men’s race will feature several Ethiopian stars including Seboka Tola Dibaba marking his second visit to Canada in seven months after finishing second at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon last October. With a personal best of 2:06:17 from the 2012 Dubai Marathon, he will be one to watch. He is joined by compatriot Sisay Jisa, who has a PB of 2:06:27.

Jisa has the nickname ‘Sherube' for his unique hairstyle – he races with his hair in cornrows. Earlier this year he finished fourth in Dubai in 2:08:09 and Ottawa will mark his first race in Canada.

Adugna Takele will also be making the journey from Ethiopia this year. He finished second at the 2013 Ottawa 10km and then moved up to the marathon, setting a PB of 2:08:31 in Frankfurt in 2014.

Not only do Ethiopian runners have a grip on the podium, but both the course record-holders are from the East African nation.

In 2014, Yemane Tsegay emerged victorious in the men’s race while Tigist Tufa took the women’s. Tsegay also set a still-standing Canadian all-comers’ record of 2:06:54 that day and earned a bonus of a Hyundai Santa Fe SUV. A year later he took the silver medal at the IAAF World Championships in Beijing.

He isn’t the only Ethiopian to excel beyond the Ottawa Marathon.

After setting a course record of 2:24:31 in 2014, Tufa ran a PB of 2:21:52 to win the Shanghai Marathon later that year. But it was her surprise victory at the 2015 London Marathon that really caught the world’s attention.

“I had mixed feelings thinking of the 2014 Ottawa race,” said Tufa, who finished eighth at the recent London Marathon in 2:25:52. “I was so happy being the champion. It was my first IAAF Gold Label marathon win and I will always remember as it is my first happiness.”

Tufa says winning Ottawa made it easier for her to get into other IAAF Gold Label races, including London. She was also selected to the Ethiopian team for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The field assembled this year by race director Manny Rodriguez is worthy of the IAAF Gold Label and one thing is certain: the Ethiopians will come expecting to dominate. As Jelela says, there is national pride.

“I hope to run 2:23 as it is going to be my best time there and, yes, I expect we will finish 1-2-3 and we will celebrate,” said Tufa. “The victory is very important to me. If I win, I will be a three-time winner in Canada, which has a big name.” Read more here

ETHIOPIAN OFFICIALS HIT BACK AT OLYMPIC ATHLETE PLANNING LONDON MARATHON PROTEST

The Ethiopian Embassy in London has hit back at exiled Ethiopian athlete Feyisa Lilesa, who vowed to protest against his country’s government at the London marathon on Sunday.

Olympic silver medallist Lilesa made headlines last year after he crossed his arms over his head at the Rio de Janeiro marathon—a symbol of resistance Oromo people widely used during anti-government protests last year—as he passed the finish line in the marathon race at the Rio 2016 Olympics.

The 27-year-old told BBC's Sport Today on Thursday that “blood is flowing” in Ethiopia.

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Rio Olympic marathon silver medal winner Feyisa Lilesa of Ethiopia arrives at a news conference in Washington, DC, on September 13, 2016.GARY CAMERON/REUTERS

Speaking to Newsweek, an Embassy spokesperson dismissed Lilesa’s remarks as “fairy tales.”

“The blood is not flowing,” the spokesperson said. “These are, as usual, unsubstantiated claims, a way to romanticize what happened.

“He [Lilesa] is entitled to express his opinion, he can say anything. He can return to Ethiopia and no-one would touch him. But the problem is that there are radical people behind this and the diaspora is using him for their own political agenda.”

Demonstrations broke out in the Oromia region of Ethiopia in November 2015 and later spread to the Amhara region, growing into what has been considered the biggest anti-government unrest in Ethiopia’s recent history. Protesters argued for a greater inclusion in the political process, claiming they had been marginalized, as the government is dominated by the Tigray minority, and called for the release of political prisoners.

The protests resulted in the deaths of 669 people, including 63 policemen, according to a report released by Ethiopia’s Human Rights Commission earlier in April. Rights groups have accused security forces of killing hundreds, opening fire on unarmed protesters and arbitrarily arresting  protesters, journalists and human rights defenders during the unrest.

While the country’s Human Rights Commission recommended prosecution of some police officers, it maintained that the overall response by security forces was adequate.   

The commission said the protests were caused by a lack of good governance, but claimed organizations such as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC) and Oromia Media Network called for illegal demonstrations and caused ethnic-based attacks.

Rights groups have voiced concerns about the commission’s report, suggesting it fails to give an accurate picture of the security forces’ responsibility for the casualties.

“The conclusion that security forces used appropriate levels of force in most situations is in stark contrast to what every other organization who has investigated has found,” Felix Horne, Ethiopia and Eritrea Senior Researcher at Human Rights Watch told Newsweek.

“They should immediately release a full version of their report to see how they arrived at what seems like another politically-motivated conclusion.”   

The United Nations and the European Union have expressed the will to conduct investigations into the violent unrest, but Ethiopia's Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn rejected such calls.

“The Ethiopian government historically has avoided scrutiny of its human rights record at all levels—from courtrooms to the national commission to international mechanisms,” Horne said.

“[The country’s government] has regularly stated that it can investigate itself through the Human Right Commission, but it has consistently failed to do so and Commission-led investigations have not met basic standards of impartiality.”

Earlier this month, Desalegn told the BBC that Ethiopian sovereignty should be respected and that the Human Rights Commission’s investigation was the only way of dealing with the issue.

Following his protest in Rio de Janeiro last year, Lilesa sought asylum in the U.S., claiming his life would be at risk if he returned to his homeland. The Ethiopian government has always denied such allegations Read more here