On Wednesday 29th January race organisers of the Vodacom Women First 5km, Great Ethiopian Run plc, launched registration for the 2020 edition of the race. This year will be the 17th edition of its popular women’s-only race which will take place on Sunday 15th March 2020, exactly one week after International Women’s Day.
With the South African mobile communications company lining up as the new title sponsor, the race aims to increase total registration to 15,000, an increase of 2,000 on the number registered last year. The race route remains unchanged with the traditional start and finish venues by Atlas Hotel.
The not-for-profit organisation Nutrition International is the race’s new message partner and will be showcasing the message “With Good Nutrition She Will Grow into It”.
In the run-up to the race participants are being invited to take part in the 2020 Vodacom Fitness Challenge, a 4-week training programme designed specifically towards participation in the race on Sunday 15th March.
Participants completing the 5km distance in under 35 minutes will receive, in addition to their race medal, a certificate signed by Ethiopia’s double Olympic champion and Women First race ambassador Meseret Defar.
Registration opens on Monday 3 February with participants able to sign up for the race at Great Ethiopian office and four branches of Enat Bank (Mexico, Addisu Gebeya, Kasanchis and Megenagna).
Registration starts for 2020 Vodacom Women First 5km
Worknesh to defend Boston Marathon titles
Reigning champions Ethiopian Worknesh Degefa and Kenyan Lawrence Cherono head a list of eight past winners who will line up for the 124th edition of the Boston Marathon, a World Athletics Platinum Label road race, on 20 April.
Worknesh, the Ethiopian record holder at 2:17:41, won by an impressive 42-second margin while Cherono won the 2019 race by two seconds over two-time winner Lelisa Desisa.
During the race, Worknesh said, “I could see first-hand how special the city of Boston, all the towns along the course, and the community is to so many people. And of course, I look forward to the challenge next April of once again racing against the world’s best athletes.”
That line up will include 2015 winner Caroline Rotich and 2017 champion Edna Kiplagat, both of Kenya, and Des Linden of the US, who won in 2018. Locally, Linden’s appearance will warrant considerable attention, coming less than eight weeks after she’ll race at the USA Olympic Team Trials Marathon on 29 February.
In the men’s race, Cherono will take on 2018 winner Yuki Kawauchi of Japan, Kenyan Goeffrey Kirui, the 2017 winner, and Desisa, the winner in 2013 and 2015.
“Boston will have a special place in my memories forever,” said Cherono, who has won eight marathons, most recently Chicago in October. “I loved every mile of this race and fought until the end to achieve the first place and become part of the elite family to have won the most prestigious race of the world.”
Sehul-Shere likely to lose its Coach
Despite six matches amazing run, Sehul Shere Coach Samson Ayele is no more in the dugout following the dispute over financial settlement with the Tigray based club.
Taking over in mid-season last year to help the side survive in the top tier, Samson’s recent record was much more than anyone’s expectation considering the continuous complaints from players on overdue monthly salary payments.
Although he once expressed to the public that he was fed up of babysitting the players who were frustrated for unpaid wages, he managed to turn around situations to steer the players in to a vigorous team spirit since the past seven weeks. Three wins including the away victory over Wolayta-Dicha and home win over Sebeta Ketema and four defeats followed by the latest 1-0 away defeat to defending champions Mekele, Samson was supposed to be a hero of Sehul for helping the side frog leap to six place just six points behind from the leaders.
But things turned out in to the opposite with the Coach’s patience finally run out missing the training session ahead of the home match against visitors Hawassa Ketema.
Sources said that Samson has remained at home rather than instructing the training session on Friday claiming a seven month overdue monthly salary.
According to anonymous insiders the club wanted Samson to part with the team on his own accord so that he couldn’t go to arbitrary party for a huge compensation for breaching contract agreement. “The team is plotting to bring back Welawalo-Adigrat’s under pressure Coach Yohannes Sahle for a second spell.”
Wassihun Getachew
Name: Wassihun Getachew
Education: Degree in Civil Engineering
Company name: Kech Road Side Emergency Service Plc
Title: Founder and operation manager
Founded in: 2019
What it does: Gives different kinds of emergency repairing service for cars
HQ: Addis Ababa
Number of employees: 24 permanent and 170 casual workers
Startup Capital: 3,000,000 birr
Current capita: Growing
Reasons for starting the business: Experience of other countries
Biggest perk of ownership: Professionalism
Biggest strength: Risk taker
Biggest challenging: Capital
Plan: To build a strong company
First career: Teacher Most interested in meeting: Haile Gebresellasie
Most admired person: My brothers
Stress reducer: Praying
Favorite past time: Family time
Favorite book: Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson
Favorite destination: Lalibela
Favorite automobile: Pick Up Trucks
