Gashaw Melese, the 2006 Paris Marathon champion, continued his impressive season with victory in the men’s race of the 22nd Abebe Bikila International Marathon in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
But the women’s race produced a surprise winner in Atsede Bayessa, who took the honours in the absence of Ethiopia’s established marathon runners.
MEN- Melese’s dominance continues
After one of the most impressive fields to be assembled in the twenty-two-year history of the race, the runners knew that it would take something special to win a heavily tactical race run at altitude.
That special performance came courtesy of Gashaw Melese, who is now fast becoming one of Ethiopia’s top marathon hopefuls. The 24-year-old has been in fine form in the international marathon circuit finishing third in Mumbai and producing an impressive sprint finish to win the Paris Marathon.
Here he needed to reciprocate the same finishing prowess to draw himself clear of Dessie Demelash who had managed to stay with him until the 40km point.
Demelash held off the challenge from Hussein Ahmed to finish second for a top three clean sweep for Ethiopia with Tanzania’s Onesmo Orondi in fourth.
WOMEN- A surprise winner in Bayessa
While the men’s race went very much according to the form book, the women’s race produced an impressive and surprise with youngster Atsede Bayessa taking victory.
A very tight race was torn apart by the explosive move of Bayessa who led from the half-way point to cross the finish line in 2:48.08, more than two minutes ahead of Zenash Alemu. Adanech Beyene came home in third for a top three finish for Ethiopia. The first non-Ethiopian runner across the line was Kenyan Caroline Keptanui who finished eighth.
Elshadai Negash for the IAAF
22nd Abebe Bikila International Marathon Official Results
Men
1. Gashaw Melese (ETH) 2:25.50
2. Dessie Demelash (ETH) 2:26.01
3. Hussein Ahemed (ETH) 2:26.16
4. Onesmo Orondi (TAN) 2:26.29
Women
1. Atsede Bayessa (ETH) 2:48.08
2. Zenash Alemu (ETH) 2:50.14
3. Adanech Beyene (ETH) 2:52.56
8. Caroline Keptanui (ETH)
