Ethiopian-born Athletes Sweep Dubai 5k Women Run

Dubai-  – Ethiopian-born United Arab Emirates (UAE) athletes Betty Desalegn Belayneh and Alia Saeed Mohammad together with Amnae Beriso of Ethiopia, clinched the top three spots in the first ever Dubai 5k women’s run here yesterday. Betty, 19, finished first in 16:46 followed by Alia (16:55) and Amnae (17:32). A total of 1,000 runners took part in the race.  

Betty and Alia Saeed Mohammad, who are originally from Ethiopia, will represent the UAE in the upcoming Asian Games to be held in Guangzhou City, China, next month.  

“We have been conducting camps in Ethiopia and we have spotted them. They haven’t run in too many races, but are very promising and will represent the UAE,” Larry Barthlow, the technical advisor to the UAE Athletics Federation told Gulf News.  

The incompetent, abusive and corrupt Ethiopian Athletics Federation (EFF) seems to turn a blind eye allowing outsiders to come in the country, set up camps and scoop our athletes right under their nose.