3 February 2010 – The 27th Addis Ababa Club Athletics Championships finished earlier today at the end of seven days of competition at Addis Ababa’s main stadium. With the championships falling in the middle of the European indoor and cross-country seasons, many of the big names in Ethiopian running did not take part which gave opportunities to younger talented athletes to stake their claim for places on the national team. The main selection race for the IAAF World Championships takes place at the Janmeda racecourse on Sunday 21st February.

One impressive winner was Genet Ayalew in the women’s 5000m. Since winning the Great Run in Bahir Dar in May 2007 as a complete unknown, she has made good progress onto Ethiopia’s national team (she was 3rd in last year’s national cross-country championships) and in international races, almost snatching victory in the Trier 8km road race in Germany on New Year’s Eve.

One well-known name, former world cross-country 8km champion Workinesh Kidane returned to track competition to win the women’s 10,000m.

Results

10,000m  men (1st division Clubs)
Yetwale Kinde                   Mekelakia    29.14.00
Debebe Welde-Senbete    Fed. Police    29.27.76
Berehanu Sheferaw          Fed. Police    29.37.12

10,000m men (2nd division Clubs)
Geberetsadik       Alpha        29.32.32
Asefa Mengistu    Alpha        29.48.27
Ashenafi Hailu     Garad        30.08.80

10,000m  women (1st division Clubs)
Workenesh Kidane    Bank        33.43.50
Selam Abera        Mekelakia    34.53.70
Tsehaye Desalegn    Mekelakia    35.34.41

10,000m  women (2nd division Clubs)
Abebech Afework            Alpha           33.54.85
Goytetom Habetom           St. George    34.03.00
Aynalem Woldehawariat    Alpha           34.33.10

5,000m men (1st division Clubs)
Berhanu Desalegn        Bank           14.11.30
Imane Mergia              Mekelakia      14.11.63
Yeneneh Alamrew        Maremia        14.15.20
 
5,000m men (2nd division Clubs)  
Shume Dechasa    Alpha        14.09.97
Brehanu Diro       Alpha        14.31.59
Tolosa Gedefa      Alpha        14.33.44

5,000m  Women 1st division Clubs)
Genet Yalew                  Mekelakia      16.04.20
Makeda Haruna             Fed. Police    16.19.45
Wagayenesh Mekasha    Meklakia      16.24.60

5,000m  Women (2nd division Clubs)
Goytitom Habtamu        St. George      16.34.24
Bekelech Daba              Alpha              16.41.93
Muna Yigezu                 Alpha              16.44.31