Obscure athletes scoop Great Ethiopia Run
ADDIS ABABA (AFP) — Unheralded Tsegaye Kebede won the men's 10-kilometre Great Ethiopian Run on Sunday, outrunning 30,000 participants.
Tsegaye, 20, took 29 minutes and six seconds to win the race, more than a minute slower than course record set last year.
"I am very happy to win the race since it is only the second time I have competed in this event," said Tsegaye, who shook off his markers after six kilometres into the race.
Nineteen-year-old Wide Ayalew won the women's race, clocking 33 minutes 55 seconds, marking 38 seconds below the course record.
The annual race, regarded as a stepping stone for Ethiopia's local athletes for an international career, has been held since 2001 attracting an average of 15,000 athletes annually.
Past winners include track and marathon heavyweights Haile Gebrselassie and current world 5,000 and 10,000 champion Tirunesh Dibaba.
