The Great Ethiopian Run, held in the country’s capital, attracts over 40,000 runners.
Participants in the race, which included Ethiopian, Kenyan, and Eritrean athletes, applauded the peace agreement reached between the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan rebels, expressing hope that the race could take place in Mekelle, Tigray’s capital.
“Because of the peace, we are able to include over 40,000 people. That makes me so happy. Please, let us do something big for peace. This is one of the benefits of peace. I am thrilled to be organizing such a race in Addis Abeba. I want to do something like this in Mekelle, and I want to do something like this in northern Ethiopia. That is extremely important.” According to Haile Gebrselassie, the founder of the Great Ethiopian Run.
Abe Gashaw, 24, added to his victories in November 2016 and January 2021 by winning the victory run on Saturday, making him the first athlete to win three titles. He prevailed over Hailemariam Amare (28:34) and Gemechu Dida, the winner from the previous year, to win in a time of 28 minutes and 32 seconds (28:36).
Tigist Ketema, however, emerged as the new winner of the women’s race. Ketema waited until the last kilometer to start her sprint, pulling ahead of Mestawot Fikir in second place and Foyten Tesfay in third place in the final 200 meters. The highest prize in the race’s 22-year history, worth 150,000 birr (nearly $3,000), was awarded to both winners.
Keneth Kiprop of Uganda, who placed 16th overall in a time of 29 minutes and 26 seconds, was the highest-finishing non-Ethiopian.
At Mesqel Square in Addis Abeba, this 10-kilometer grand running event began and ended. Peres Jepchirchir, the women’s marathon Olympic champion, and Moses Tanui, a legendary Kenyan, attended this year’s event.
