Merima Hashim and Solomon Tsige were the women’s and men’s winners of the Ethiopian Half Marathon championships held on Sunday (28) around Sululta on the outskirts of Addis Ababa.
Hashim, who is just completing her first year of return from a career-threatening two-year injury, surprised seasoned half marathon specialist Eyerusalem Kuma and took the win in a time of 71:52 with Kuma coming home for second (72:04) ahead of Adanech Zekiros (72:06).
The win comes as a consolation for Hashim who missed selection for Ethiopia’s team in Helsinki after being piped for the four places by more established stars.
But there were no surprises in the men’s race as last year’s winner Solomon Tsige took the honours in 61.37 with his club mates from St. George Lishan Yegezu and Raji Assefa occupying the other places on the medal podium.
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
Ethiopian Half Marathon Championships official results
Men
Solomon Tsige (St. George) 61.37
Lishan Yegezu (St. George) 61.42
Raji Assefa (St. George) 61.47
Yassir Abdissa (Oromia Police)
Tadesse Tola (Yenegew Tesfa)
Tefera Bacha (Global)
Women
Merima Hashim (Prisons Police) 71.52
Eyerusalem Kuma (Prisons Police) 72.04
Adanech Zekiros (Prisons Police) 72.06
Le’tay Negash (unregistered)
Sisay Me’eso (Omedla)
Derebe Alemu (Prisons)
