12th Edition of Great Ethiopian Run 10km takes place this Sunday

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia ( Press Release) – Exactly eleven years to the day since the first-ever Great Ethiopian Run International 10km back in 2001, the 12th edition of the race takes to the streets of Ethiopia’s capital Addis Ababa on Sunday 25th November 2012 with more than 36,000 participants expected at the start line.

The race boasts an impressive list of past winners including Haile Gebrselassie (2001), Gebregziabiher Gebremariam (2002), Tirunesh Dibaba (2003) and Tsegaye Kebede (2007) and Sunday’s race is likely to launch the career of several more young Ethiopian stars. Marathon performers such as Dire Tune, Chala Dechasa, Teiba Erkesso and Getu Feleke have all used this race as a stepping stone to greater international honours.

Prize money for the elite athletes remains by far the biggest on offer for any athletic competition in Ethiopia, with prizes of 40,000 birr ($2,500) for both men’s and women’s race champions.

The race also stands out for being under full Ethiopian management, led by GM Ermias Ayele and an event team responsible for the staging a dozen other mass-participation races around Ethiopia each year.

This year’s event includes its usual series of children’s races on race eve plus a Sports Expo in the week leading up to the race, the first of its kind in Ethiopia.

Among some of the guests expected at the run are Lornah Kiplagat, John Treacy and Julia Bleasdale.

Source: GreatEthiopianRun.org