Deressa Chimsa & Yeshi Esayas win Daegu Marathon

 Daegu, S. Korea – Deressa Chimsa and Yeshi Esayas of Ethiopia took convincing victories at the second edition of the Daegu International Marathon here on Sunday, Bob Ramsak said in his report for the IAAF website.  Deressa clocked 2:08:45 to win the men’s race while Yeshi defended her title in the women’s with a 2:29:17 run, breaking her own course record

The course will be used for the Marathon races at the 13th IAAF World Championships in Athletics, Daegu, Korea (27 August – 4 September 2011).

Men’s Race

Running in his first Marathon since failing to finish over the distance at last August’s World Championships, Deressa broke away from Ji Young-Jun of Korea after 35 kilometres to take the convincing victory, the first of his international career. The 33-year-old Ethiopian fell a little shy of Ji’s 2:08:30 course record set last year. 

Last year’s winner Ji had to settle for second place finishing in 2:09:31, well ahead of Wegayehu Girma Teffera of Ethiopia, who clocked in a personal best time of 2:10:09.

Women’s Race

24-year-old Yeshi led a top-four sweep for Ethiopia with the fastest run of her career, and her second sub-2:30 performance.

Harun Makda was a distant second in 2:30:44, just three seconds ahead of Mulu Seboka. Martha Markos was fourth with a personal best of 2:32:11 to finish out the Ethiopian sweep.

Leading Results –

MEN –
 1. Deressa Chimsa, ETH         2:08:45
 2. Ji Young-Jun, KOR           2:09:31
 3. Wegayehu Girma Tefera, ETH  2:10:09 PB  
 8. Wolaye Amare, ETH           2:13:12 PB 
WOMEN –
 1. Yeshi Esayias, ETH    2:29:17 PB
 2. Harun Makda, ETH      2:30:44 
 3. Mulu Seboka, ETH      2:30:47 
 4. Martha Markos, ETH    2:32:11 PB