2018 Great Ethiopian Run Atracts Athletes from more than 25 countries
By Dawit Tolesa
The 18th installment of the Great Ethiopian Run (GER) is set take place on Sunday November 18, 2018 with more than 25 countries taking part in the road race. A total of 44,000 local participants; 500 elite athletes and 500 international participants are expected to take part in the race.
Sundays’ race will start from the historic monument at Sidist Kilo. “Similar to the past two years, a wave start will be implemented to accommodate the number of participants and give the choice for those who want to run faster,” the organizers stated.
Unlike the previous years, the GER will be hosting athletes coming from different African countries to compete with Ethiopian athletes. Eritrea, Uganda and Botswana are among those to take part in both men and women categories. To make the elite competition more standardized the GER is to work with the national anti-doping organization to do tests on athletes.
Among invited guests is Zersenay Tadesse of Eritrea, the four-time Olympian, who has found most of his success in the half marathon with four consecutive victories in the World Half Marathon Championships from 2006 to 2009, the Lisbon Half Marathon in 2010 and a fifth in 2012. He has also excelled in cross-country running, winning gold, silver and two bronze medals over five IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
Meanwhile, Uganda long-distance runner Stephen Kiprotich – an Olympic marathon champion – is also invited to the 18th edition Great Ethiopian Run.
Due to the African Union, the GER was advised to change the start and finish-line to the historic monument of Sidist Kilo.
Source: The Reporter
