The 24th edition of the annual Ethiopia International 10km Run was a resounding success, with over 43,000 participants, a record-breaking 5,000 runners surpassing last year’s total. The event was held at Meskel Square in the heart of the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. Running legends such as the founder of the run, Haile Gebrselassie, were on hand to mark the occasion.
Haile Gebrselassie expressed his ambitions for the event, stressing the importance of inviting elite athletes from around the world. He stressed that the quality of the race and the atmosphere must be maintained to ensure the continued success of the event.
The race was highlighted by the participation of the new world marathon record holder, Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya, who made her Ethiopian debut. She shared her delight at experiencing the warmth of the Ethiopian crowd and praised the incredible atmosphere of the race.
In the women’s competition, the expected favourite, Asayech Aychew, lived up to expectations by claiming victory in 32 minutes and 13 seconds. On the men’s side, Binyam Mehari repeated his feat of the previous year by finishing the race in 28 minutes and 25 seconds.
The winners received substantial cash prizes, with a total of 1.3 million Ethiopian Birr at stake. The results were dominated by Ethiopian athletes, highlighting the depth of the nation’s running talent.
The awarding of World Athletics Label status to the race this year underlines the growing importance of this event in the global running calendar. The impressive performances and enthusiasm of the participants confirmed once again Ethiopia’s place as a running nation par excellence.
This edition of the Sofi Malt Great Ethiopian Run International 10km race will be remembered as a spectacular and vibrant sporting event, celebrating the passion for running and the spirit of community.