2016 Rio Olympic Games: Ethiopia announces marathon team
World marathon champion Mare Dibaba is one of six athletes who will represent Ethiopia in the marathon at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The Ethiopian Athletics Federation has confirmed its selections – along with several reserves – for both the men’s and women’s marathon.
The men’s team comprises the winners of three of the world’s biggest marathons so far this year: Dubai Marathon champion Tesfaye Abera, Boston Marathon champion Lemi Berhanu and Tokyo Marathon champion Feyisa Lelisa.
Three-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele, who finished third at this year’s London Marathon, has been named as a reserve, along with world silver medallist Adhane Yemane and 2013 world silver medallist Lelisa Desisa.
Dibaba, who equalled her lifetime best of 2:19:52 when winning last year’s Xiamen Marathon, is joined on the women’s team by two-time Berlin Marathon champion Aberu Kebede and three-time Dubai Marathon winner Aselefech Mergia.
Dubai Marathon champion Tirfi Tsegaye, who clocked a world-leading 2:19:41 earlier this year, and Tigist Tufa, who won the 2015 London Marathon and finished second in this year’s race, are the reserves for the women’s team.
ETHIOPIAN MARATHON TEAM FOR RIO
Men: Tesfaye Abera, Lemi Berhanu, Feyisa Lelisa
Reserves: Kenenisa Bekele, Adhane Yemane, Lelisa Desisa
Women: Mare Dibaba, Aberu Kebede, Aselefech Mergia
Reserves: Tigist Tufa, Tirfi Tsegaye
Source: IAAF.org
ለገበ።ነበር።ግን።ሚስቴን።አለቀትም።
The result is very good but I have a comment for our players. 1.no leave of their country 2.it is possible to add reservers 3. Select players from all regions for any sport having this Ethiopia will have excess players and fit for any type of sport.lastly I appreciate all those who was winner and their coach.
I think leaving Kenenisa is a big big mistake. Why the so called selecting committee don’t learn from their last mistake. Last time they picked 3 runners who have a personal best from Dubai marathon and all of them drooped out. Just show me any Ethiopian marathon runner that run fast Dubai and did the same thing at london, boston or chicago marathon.
Consider the marathon list from Ethiopia for men and women. And one realizes why many of the women and men (especially women) from Ethioppia and Kenya leave theri countries to become citezens of other countries. The reserve list for the men include Kenenisa, Adhane & Lelisa! All with incredible PBs. Same for the women, Tigist & Tirfe are formidable runners. I imagine it would be the same for 1500 m for women. With G.Dibaba, Tsegay, Gudaf, Sado, there are perhaps other young sub 4 min runners waiting in the wings. What to do?