Gelete Burika wins the senior women's 4km at Ethiopian World XC trials on Jan Meda race course (© Nahom Tesfaye)
World Junior Cross Country champion Gelete Burka made it a happy graduation to the senior level at these national championships with a dominant display over the 4km at the 23rd Jan Meda International Cross Country today.
Abebe Dinkesa continued his progress with a successful defence of his men’s 12km title, but Tariku Bekele, younger brother of Ethiopian distance running superstar Kenenisa Bekele, suffered a shock defeat in the men’s junior race.
Burka in a class of her own in the women’s 4km
The biggest cheer of the day’s action was reserved for Gelete Burka who gave a blunt indication that she is ready to challenge the very best in the world over the mud.
The race, which was devoid of big-name stars like Tirunesh Dibaba, Ejegayehou Dibaba, and Werknesh Kidane got underway rather nervously after a false start, but with only one kilometre of the race completed, a group of eight runners opened up a small, but increasing lead over the rest.
The group dwindled down to six at the bell (2km) with Meselech Melkamu leading the way following Burka, Chaltu Girma and Bezunesh Bekele. Frustrated by the incredibly mundane pace, Burka was the first runner to hit the front opening a small 10m gap ahead of Melkamu. This gap continued to increase until the 19-year-old crossed the finish to the rounding applause of the audience.
“I love cross country and I have trained very well this year for the race,” said a satisfied Burka after a thrilling finale. “I am ready to challenge for a good result in Japan.”
Dinkesa is the new prince of Jan Meda
While Burika made easy work of clinching a place in Ethiopia’s team for the World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka, Japan (1 - 2 April), Abebe Dinkesa also showed his style when taking victory in the men’s 12km race.
The six lap race begun with typical pushing and shoving for a position at the front of the pack, but it quickly settled down to a leading group ten runners as the field completed the first lap. None of the leaders showed any enthusiasm to set a firm pace and disperse the leading group until Eshetu Gezhagne opened a small gap at the end of the fourth lap taking only Dinkesa with him.
The duo continued to run together shoulder-to-shoulder until a chasing group led by Gebregziabher Gebremariam caught them at the bell but neither he nor Gexhagne was in condition to handle Dinkesa’s improved sprint finish. However, Ketema Negussie, winner of last year’s Great Ethiopian Run, tried to claw back the widening gap.
In response Dinkessa merely upped his pace and entered the final home straight (200m long to one of the most deafening cheers seen at a cross country race in Ethiopia. He was over 150m ahead of second place finisher Negussie, with Gebremariam, and Gezhagne clinching the automatic places in Ethiopia’s team for Fukuoka.
“I did not want to over exert myself because the main competition is in Fukuoka,” said Dinkesa. “I want to do well this year since my result in France was as expected. I want to at least medal this year.”
Junior men - Jelan conquers T. Bekele
The senior race had gone very much according to prediction, but there was nothing predictable about the men’s junior race as it again unearthed a surprise winner for the fourth successive year.
All the pre-race predictions had swayed in favour of World Junior 3000m bronze medallist Tariku Bekele, but the win went to World Youth 3000m silver medallist Ibrahim Jelan.
A leading group initially made up of six athletes hit the front as early as the first kilometre in probably the tightest race in the two-day action. Only one runner was left behind as the remaining five continued to run together for much of the remainder of the race.
At the bell, T. Bekele and Jelan hit the front in what became a two-horse race between two outstanding young runners. The lead was exchange between the two before Jelan found a little bit of extra energy to sprint past T. Bekele and take a narrow win.
“I was not afraid of him (Bekele) because we are training partners at the same club (Muger Cement),” said Jelan. “This is not a surprise result for me. I am aiming for gold in Japan.”
T. Bekele was also happy despite victory. “All my training this winter had been on the track to prepare for indoor competition,” said the runner who will compete in the World Indoor Championships in Moscow. “I will try to condition myself and prepare well for the World Cross in the limited time that I have.”
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
23rd Jan Meda Cross Country International Official Results
8km junior men
1. Ibrahim Jelan (Muger) 23:26
2. Tariku Bekele (Muger) 23:27
3. Demessew Tsega (St. George) 23:29 (23:28.93)
4. Abera Ertban (Beninshangul Gumuz region) 23:29 (23:29:36)
5. Habtamu Fekadu (Defense) 23:30
6. Chala Lemi (Ethiopian Banks) 23:39
4km senior women
1. Gelete Burka (Prisons) 13:09
2. Meselech Melkamu (EEPCO) 13:20
3. Bezunesh Bekele (Ethiopian Banks) 13:23
4. Chaltu Girma (Prisons) 13:24
5. Teyiba Erkesso (Prisons) 13:28
6. Etalemahu Kidane (Omedla) 13:30
12km senior men
1. Abebe Dinkesa (Prisons) 35:30
2. Ketema Negussie (Muger) 35:37
3. Gebregziabher Gebremariam (Ethiopian Banks) 35:39
4. Eshetu Gezhagne (Muger) 35:44
5. Tadesse Tola (Prisons) 35:57
6. Zenbaba Yegezu (Defense) 36:04
