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Lead Stories: Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Bekele Marries Actress

Posted November 20th, 2007 at 11:20 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

One of the Ethiopia’s most eligible bachelors is off the market.

World 10,000m champion, Kenenisa Bekele, was married last Sunday to film actress Danawit Gebregziabher at a wedding ceremony in Addis Ababa, the IAAF reported.

You can see a photo of the bride and groom at this link: http://tinyurl.com/2qaq5w
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Great Ethiopian Run Set for Sunday in Addis Ababa

Posted November 20th, 2007 at 10:44 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

The seventh edition of the Great Ethiopian Run International 10-K is set for Sunday in Addis Ababa. Organizers reported last week that more than 30,000 runners have registered for the event which was originally scheduled to take place on Sep. 9, to coincide with Ethiopia’s Millennium celebrations, but was postponed because of security fears.

For this event, Haile Gebrselassie assumes the role of race director, and he’s invited a number of international guests, including Britain’s former 5000m world record holder David Moorcroft and ING New York City Marathon race director, Mary Wittenberg, who will be making her first trip to Ethiopia.
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2:04:26 World Record for Gebrselassie in Berlin

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 2:29 PM by Adam Jacobs

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Olympics

Nineteen years ago, a skinny 15 year old did what millions of country kids over the centuries have done. Haile Gebrselassie went up to the big city, to seek his fortune. He was only in Addis Ababa a couple of days, just long enough to run a marathon and struggle, half crippled from the effort, back home to his village 175 kilometres away. He would start running again a week later, when the pain subsided, and the dreams of success returned.

But even he could not have dreamed that what began with a 2hrs 48min marathon round the back streets of Addis, admittedly at altitude, would presage a career which, thus far has netted him 24 world records, the latest coming in Berlin on Sunday morning, at that same marathon distance, but his time some 44 minutes faster, in 2.04.26.
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Berlin Marathon 2007:
Haile Sets WR; Wami Wins

Posted September 30th, 2007 at 9:15 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Marathons

Running in near ideal conditions, Haile Gebrselassie shattered the World record in the marathon, clocking 2:04:26 at the real,-Berlin Marathon today.

Defending his Berlin title, the 34-year-old Ethiopian knocked 29 seconds from the preview record, 2:04:55, set by Kenyan Paul Tergat over the same course in 2003.

Gebrselassie, who had previously broken 23 world records or bests over his career, reached the half way point in 1:02:29.

Kenyans took the next three spots, with Abel Kirui second in 2:06:51, Salim Kipsang (2:07:29) third and Philip Manyim, the 2005 Berlin winner, fourth (2:08:01).

Gete Wami defended her women’s title, winning in 2:23:17, well ahead of Germany’s marathon debutant Irina Mikitenko, who took second in 2:24:49.

Look for additional details later today.

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Hundreds gather to remember Mike Long

Posted July 28th, 2007 at 11:22 AM by David Monti

Section: News & Results

Under the warm Southern California sun, which no doubt had influenced his sunny disposition, hundreds of family, friends and running industry colleagues gathered at Mission Point Park to remember Elite Racing’s legendary elite athletes coordinator, Mike Long, who died unexpectedly last week at 65.

Tears flowed freely as more than a dozen people came to the podium to remember Long, showering him with praise and sharing their goodbyes.

“For those who never met him words would not suffice,” said writer and television commentator, Toni Reavis, who acted as emcee. He called the diminutive Long, who only stood 5′ 6″ (168cm) tall, “the center around which all we revolved.”

Long’s son, Bruce, said that his father’s sudden death –believed to be a heart attack– was probably how his father would have wanted to go, not caring for lingering goodbyes. “He was never a hospital bed kind of guy,” he said, his sunglasses concealing his tear-swollen eyes.
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NY Times: Gebrselassie to race in Nike NYC Half-Marathon

Posted July 11th, 2007 at 8:30 AM by Bob Ramsak

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field

The New York Times is reporting on their website that double Olympic gold medalist, Haile Gebrselassie, will be running the NYC Half-Marathon presented by NIKE on Sunday, Aug. 5. It will be the Ethiopian’s first ever race in New York City, and event organized by the New York Road Runners.

“I’ve been there many times,” he told veteran reporter Frank Litsky in a telephone interview from his home in Addis Ababa. “I know the roads in Central Park. I haven’t run in the New York City Marathon, but I was there to watch it three or four years ago. I’m running the Berlin Marathon this year because I won it last year, but maybe New York in the future.”

You can read the full text of the story by clicking here.

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Graves of legendary Olympic athletes desecrated in Ethiopia

Posted March 12th, 2007 at 8:32 PM by Adam Berger

Section: News & Results, Olympics

An Ethiopian news portal, nazret.com, is reporting that the graves of athletics legends Abebe Bikila and Mamo Wolde have been desecrated.

According to the report, the tombstones of the Olympic gold medalists were torn down in Addis Ababa and the life-sized statues of the athletes were “cut from the legs.”

You can read the full report by clicking here.
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Melkamu among winners at Addis Ababa XC champs

Posted December 25th, 2006 at 4:00 PM by Martin Kennedy

Section: News & Results, Cross Country

Last weekend, cross country medallist Meselech Melkamu continued her hot streak at the MOHA Jan Meda Addis Ababa Cross Country Championships in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Melkamu was able to earn the victory by holding off Mestawot Tufa in the 8km senior women’s race.

Ali Abdosh won the men’s senior race through 12km of stiff competition. Konjit Tilahun won the junior women’s race (6km) and Chala Leme held off the pack for the men’s junior event (8km).
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