Bezunesh Bekele Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Age: 26 Personal best: 2:23:09 (Dubai, 2008) Career notes: Only 26 years old and the fourth-fastest Ethiopian women's marathoner of all time, Bezunesh Bekele is well on her way to recasting the top tier. Only Berhane Adere, Askale Tafa Magarsa and Gete Wami have run quicker over the 26.2-mile distance. As a prelude to her marathon debut, Bekele ran to a 1:08:07 fourth place at the 2007 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Udine, earning a national record (since broken by Dire Tune). At the same race, Lornah Kiplagat set the 1:06:25 world record and Mary Keitany set the 1:06:48 Kenyan national record. Bekele also finished first at the Meia Maratona de Portugal Half Marathon the same year. With full attention on her, Bekele made her marathon debut in 2008 in impressive fashion, running 2:23:09 for the runner-up position in Dubai. At her first World Marathon Majors race in Chicago, she faltered in the heat and placed a disappointing seventh. In preparation for Boston, she returned to Dubai this past January, and won. Bekele has represented her country on five World Cross Country Championship teams and two World Half Marathon Championship teams. In addition, she was the Ethiopian national champion on the track in the 10,000m in 2006. Personal notes: Comparisons with Gete Wami are not unfounded; Bekele is a protege and trains under the direction of Wami's husband, coach Getaneh Tessema, in Addis Ababa. Bekele said her proudest running moment was winning the Dubai Marathon in January. She is married, and her hobby is reading. -- Courtesy BAA [ Close window ]