Second time victories for Foten Tesfay & Hagos Gebrehiwotat the 2018 Great Ethiopian Run
Addis Ababa – November 18, 2018 – Foten Tesfay of Mossobo Cement and Hagos Gebrehiwot from Mesfin Industrial Athletics Club, won the 18th edition of the Great Ethiopian Run (GER) International 10km road race, held, today at Sidist killo’s Martyr’s monument.
The race is making a temporary shift from its usual place, Meskel Square, due to the 11th Extraordinary summit of the African Union, is being held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
In what was believed to be one of the most challenging competition in the race history, mainly because of its hill topography and the level of the athletes who are coming to compete both from here and internationally, the winners said that, its not easy to win this race, specially to win it for the second time.
Foten Tesfay, who won today’s race in women’s category, for the second time after her maiden victory in 2016, made it to the podium by clocking 33:54.03 on her way beating Tsehay Gemechu and Tsigie Gebreselama of Oromia Bank and Sur Construction respectively.
Foten told the reporters, ” I am very happy winning this great race, for the second time, but it was indeed a very challenging competition.”
Men’s Race
Meanwhile, Hagos Gebrehiwot, the Men’s event winner, who is also a second time winner, said that “today’s race was so challenging, in all aspects specially the topography, but winning such a big race at this time of the year will help to prepare well for the upcoming world championship in Doha.”
Hagos registered 28:54.03 to finish a head of Bonsa Dida from Adidas Development Program and Tilahun Haile of Hawasa Kenema. The winners received their winning medals from Haile Gebresilassie board chairman of the GER, and this years guest of honours of the race, Ugandan World and Olympic Champion Stephen Kiprotich and Eritrea’s Half Marathon Specialist Zeresenay Tadesse, and also they will receive their 100,000 birr, prize money after they past clear their doping test.
The Great Ethiopian Run is Africa’s biggest annual 10km road race, which boasts 44,000 participants and more than 500 elite athletes.
Top Three Finishes
Athlets Club Time
Women
- Foten Tesfay – Messobo Cement – 33:54.03
- Tsehay Gemechu – Oromia Bank – 33:48.08
- Tsigie Gebreselama – Sur Construction – 33:52.08
Men
- Hagos Gebrehiwot – Mesfin Engineering Industrial – 28:54.03
- Bonsa Dida – Addidas Development Program – 29:03.08
- Tilahun Haile – Hawasa Kenema – 29:13.07
Source: Great Ethiopian Run
