Great Ethiopian Run (GER) - Mengistu victory highlights Ethiopian weekend performances

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Mengistu victory highlights Ethiopian weekend performances

26 October 2009- Ethiopian Meseret Mengistu's excellent victory in the Marsellie-Cassis Half marathon in France was the highlight of Ethiopian performances across this weekend.

The 21-year old, who had won the Riems Half Marathon a week ago in France, took victory in 1:10.35 ahead of Kenyan duo Helah Kiprop and Emily Rotich. It has been improved year for the track runner from the Muger Cement sports club who also finished fourth over the 10,000m at the highly-competitive Ethiopian national championships in May this year.

In Frankfurt, pre-race favorite Atsede Bayissa couldnt quite live up to expectations as she crashed to a lowly eighth, but Rome Marathon winner Frehiwot Dado achieved another sub 2:30 performance to take fourth in 2:29.20. The best Ethiopian in a fast men's race was Alemayehu Tafere who improved his personal best to 2:08.46.

Former winner of the Confidence Women First 5km Koreni Jelila clocked 2:28.41 to finish second on her marathon debut in Venice on Sunday as Kenyan men and women dominated the proceedings. Makeda Harun, another former track runner, also went sub 2:30 on her debut clocking 2:29.56 to finish fourth in the women's race.

Across the alps in Switzerland, Urgessa Weyessa, an Ethiopian who is living in Switzerland after seeking political asylum, took victory in the 17th running of the Lausanne Marathon. The veteran clocked 2:21.00 to take victory in a weak men's race.

And in Morocco, Ethiopian cleansweeped the podium in the Casablanca Marathon with Amane Chewo (2:34.32) taking victory ahead of Yeshi Esayas and Tigist Abdi.

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