Updated 12 October 2007

YONAS Kifle, Eritrea (5000m/ 10,000m/ cross country/ half-marathon)

Born 24 March 1977

Eclipsed lately by his younger countryman Zersenay Tadesse, Yonas Kifle was the first Eritrean athlete to make a mark internationally with his 8th place finish in the 2002 World Cross Country Championships 12km and his 4th place in the World Half Marathon six weeks later.

Kifle’s 10th place in the 2006 World Road Running Championships was his sixth top-10 and eleventh top-20 finish in a global championship event, including a bronze medal performance in the 2005 World Half Marathon. His consistency at this level promises a similarly creditable performance in Udine.

Personal Bests

5000m: 13:17.72 (2002)
10,000m: 27:35.72 (2005)
10 km: 28:29 (2002)
20 km: 57:49 (2006)
Half Marathon: 61:05 (2002)

Career Highlights

1999 13th,  3000m, World Indoor Championships
1999 13th,  5000m ht, World Championships
1999 11th,  5000m,  All Africa Games
1999 11th,  10,000m, All Africa Games
2000 61st, 12km  World Cross Country Championships
2000 14th,  10,000m ht, Olympic Games
2001 42nd, 12 km  World Cross Country Championships
2001 10th,  5000m ht, World Championships
2002   8th,  12km  World Cross Country Championships
2002   4th,  61:05  World Half Marathon Championships
2002   6th,  5000m, African Championships
2004   9th,  12 km World Cross Country Championships
2004 16th,  10,000m, Olympic Games
2004 11th, World Half Marathon Championships
2005 15th, 12 km World Cross Country Championships
2005 11th, 10,000m World Championships
2005   3rd, World Half Marathon Championship
2006   7th,  12 km World Cross Country Championships,
2006 10th,  20km World Road Running Championships
2007   3rd, Half Marathon  All Africa Games

Prepared by John Manners for the IAAF ‘Focus on Athletes’ project. Copyright IAAF 2004-07.