Posted: July 23, 2004

Athletics: Ethiopia Announces Olympic Team

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

Strong squad of 26 Named for Athens

By Elshadai Negash

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia- The Ethiopian Athletics Federation last Sunday announced its strong of 26 Athletes that will take part in the 28th Athens Olympics in August.

All the usual big stars are included, but there is a surprise selection in the women's 10,000m where twice-Olympic 10000m champion Derartu Tulu gets the nod ahead of her cousin, the in-form Ejiageyehou Dibaba, who is only a reserve. Ethiopia uses an Olympic qualifying criterion that requires all runners to obtain the Olympic "A" standard, and since many runners in the country achieve that easily, the Federation takes the three fastest runners with the fastest times plus one reserve for the Games.

But E. Dibaba's second-fastest time of the year and personal best in the 10,000m of 30:43.15 is nearly seven seconds better than Tulu's own 30:51.65, but the 32-year old's experience and late rally run to form has given her the nod over her younger protégé.

Apart from Tulu and E. Dibaba, Ethiopia is hoping that Berhane Adere and Werknesh Kidane can reproduce the form that saw them finish first and second in last year's world championships in Paris. The strategy for the duo has been little racing and more training this summer as Ethiopia seeks its third women's 10,000m gold in the last four Olympic finals.

Ethiopia has nominated five runners for the 5000 and 10,000m teams, which could mean that at least one runner could run the double in Athens. According to Dube Jilo, Technical Committee member and Athletes' representative within the Federation, that runner is world 5000 and 10,000m record holder Kenenisa Bekele.

"The Technical and Executive Committee of the Federation have agreed that Kenenisa [Bekele] will run in both races in Athens," he said. "We have told him about this and he has agreed to our decision. This is unless he encounters any major health problems."

Reigning Olympic 10000m champion Haile Gebrselassie is expected to give Bekele a better contest than he did at the World Championships in Paris last year. Sources close to the technical committee with the Federation say that he could run his own race setting a lightening pace from the start possibly destroying team tactics. Gebrselassie is also on the verge of making history with a possible third Olympic Gold taking him making him the most successful Ethiopian Olympic Athlete. In the middle distance, Ethiopia's hopes are pinned on world Indoor 1500m champion Kutre Dulecha and she hopes to go one better than her fourth place in the Sydney 1500m final. Ethiopia also takes two youngsters to take part in the distance with 17-year old Meskerem Legesse and 18-year old Mestawot Tadesse aiming to make it to the final of the event in their Olympic debut.

As in the past three editions of the Games, Ethiopia's most successful coach Dr. Woldemeskel Kostre will lead the 5000m and 10000m teams. Dr. Yilma Berta leads the Marathon team, while Inspector Tizazu Wubshet is in charge of the Middle Distance team.

Ethiopian team for Athens

Men's 10000m 
1. Kenenisa Bekele
2. Haile Gebrselassie 
3. Sileshi Sihin 
4. Gebregziabher Gebremariam 

Women's 10000m 
1. Berhane Adere 
2. Werknesh Kidane 
3. Derartu Tulu 
4. Ejigayehou Dibaba 

Men's 5000m 
1. Kenenisa Bekele
2. Dejene Berhanu 
3. Gebregziabher Gebremariam 
4. Sileshi Sihin 

Women's 5000m 
1. Tirunesh Dibaba 
2. Ejigayehou Dibaba 
3. Sintayehu Ejigu 
4. Meseret Defar 

Men's Marathon 
1. Gezhagne Abera 
2. Teferi Wedajo 
3. Hailu Nigussie 
4. Anbesse Tolosa 

Women's Marathon 
1. Elfnesh Alemu 
2. Werknesh Tola 
3. Asha Gigi 
4. Shetaye Gemechu 

Men's 3000m Steeplechase 
1. Tewodros Shiferaw 
2. Leulseged Walle 

Women's 1500m 
1. Kutre Dulecha 
2. Meskerem Legesse 
3. Mestawot Taddesse 

Men's 800m 
Berhanu Alemu 

Coaching Staff
Coordinators: 
Instructor Endalk Kelemwork (EAF Technical Director) 
Captain Dube Jilo (Athletes' representative) 

Middle Distance:
Inspector Tizazu Wubshet (Head Coach) 
Captain Hussein Shebo (Assistant Coach) 

5000m and 10000m: 
Dr. Woldemeskel Kostre (Head Coach) 
Mr. Kassu Alemayehu (Assistant Coach) 
Major Tolossa Kotu (Assistant Coach) 

Marathon: 
Dr. Yilma Berta 
Major Zelalem Desta