This article is about the athlete. For the singer, see Bizunesh Bekele.
Bezunesh Bekele
FullnameBezunesh Bekele Sertsu
NationalityEthiopian
SportRunning
EventCross-country, Half marathon, Marathon
Birth date29 January 1983 (age 43)
Birth placeAddis Ababa, Ethiopia
Height1.45 metres (4 ft 9 in)

Bezunesh Bekele Sertsu (born 29 January 1983) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specializes in cross-country running and marathons.

Biography

Bezunesh Bekele Sertsu was born on January 29, 1983, in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. In her early career, she achieved notable success in road races, securing back-to-back victories at the Montferland Run in 2004 and 2005, as well as winning the Rotterdam Half Marathon. Her triumph at the Cross Internacional de Itálica in 2006 highlighted her talent, and she later placed sixth in the short race at the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships. In 2007, she added significant circuit victories, including wins at the Zevenheuvelenloop and the Portugal Half Marathon.

At the 2007 IAAF World Road Running Championships, Bezunesh finished fourth, setting a national half marathon record of 1:08:07. However, this record was later surpassed by Dire Tune, who clocked 1:07:18 at the 2009 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon.[1] Bezunesh narrowly missed being selected for the 2008 Ethiopian Olympic team, despite having faster times than Tune, which caused tension between the two runners.[2] In 2008, she placed third at the Great Manchester Run, finishing behind Jo Pavey and Rose Cheruiyot.[3]

Bezunesh debuted in the marathon with a time of 2:23:09 at the 2008 Dubai Marathon, securing second place behind Birhane Adere. Her time ranked among the fastest ever for a debut marathon.[4] She returned to Dubai in 2009 and won the marathon, beating Atsede Habtamu by over a minute.[5] That year, she represented Ethiopia in the marathon at the 2009 World Championships in Athletics, finishing in 16th place. In 2010, she came fourth at the London Marathon with a time of 2:23:17,[6] and later secured second place at the Berlin Marathon with a time of 2:24:58.[7]

In the 2011 London Marathon, Bezunesh achieved the best result by an Ethiopian runner, finishing fourth in 2:23:42.[8] She again finished fourth at the 2011 World Championships in Athletics, narrowly missing a medal. In 2012, Bezunesh improved her personal best with a time of 2:20:30 at the Dubai Marathon, ranking as the third fastest Ethiopian woman and one of the top twenty fastest women for the event.[9]

Later in 2012, she placed fourth at the Yangzhou Half Marathon but improved during the year, winning the Great Scottish Run and setting a personal best of 51:45 in the 10-mile race at the Dam tot Damloop, where she finished second.[10] She capped off the year with a fourth-place finish at the Frankfurt Marathon.[11]

Bezunesh is married to fellow Ethiopian marathon runner Tessema Abshiro, who is also a member of the Ethiopian national team.[2]

Achievements

1999World Cross Country ChampionshipsBelfast, United Kingdom35thJunior race
2000World Cross Country ChampionshipsVilamoura, Portugal13thJunior race
2002World Cross Country ChampionshipsDublin, Ireland6thJunior race
2003World Cross Country ChampionshipsLausanne, Switzerland28thShort race
2004World Cross Country ChampionshipsBrussels, Belgium18thShort race
World Half Marathon ChampionshipsNew Delhi, India8thHalf marathon
2005World Cross Country ChampionshipsSaint-Étienne, France12thShort race
10thLong race
2006World Cross Country ChampionshipsFukuoka, Japan9thShort race
African ChampionshipsBambous, Mauritius5th10,000 m
2007World Road Running ChampionshipsUdine, Italy4thHalf marathon
2009World ChampionshipsBerlin, Germany16thMarathon
2010London MarathonLondon, United Kingdom4thMarathon
Berlin MarathonBerlin, Germany2ndMarathon
2011London MarathonLondon, United Kingdom4thMarathon
World ChampionshipsDaegu, South Korea4thMarathon

Personal bests

EventTimeVenueDate
3000 metres8:52.08Gateshead, United Kingdom11 June 2006
5000 metres15:02.48Hengelo, Netherlands28 May 2006
10,000 metres31:10.68Utrecht, Netherlands17 June 2005
10 kilometres31:20Udine, Italy14 October 2007
15 kilometres47:36Nijmegen, Netherlands18 November 2007
20 kilometres1:04:40Udine, Italy14 October 2007
Half marathon1:08:07Udine, Italy14 October 2007
Marathon2:20:30Dubai, United Arab Emirates27 January 2011

References

  1. ^ "Makau produces second fastest time ever, Tune clocks national record at RAK Half Marathon - updated". World Athletics. 20 February 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  2. ^ Negash, Elshadai (15 April 2009). "Tune seeks solace in Boston return". Universal Sports. Archived from the original on 17 April 2009. Retrieved 24 April 2009.
  3. ^ "History and Tradition". Great Run. Archived from the original on 11 May 2009. Retrieved 15 May 2009.
  4. ^ Butcher, Pat (18 January 2008). "Second fastest of all time for Gebre in Dubai Marathon". World Athletics. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  5. ^ Butcher, Pat (16 January 2009). "Despite heavy rains, Gebrselassie clocks 2:05:29 in Dubai". World Athletics. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  6. ^ Brown, Matthew (25 April 2010). "Commanding victories for Kebede and Shobukhova - London Marathon report". World Athletics. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  7. ^ Butcher, Pat (26 September 2010). "Makau and Kebede triumph in rainy Berlin". World Athletics. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  8. ^ Brown, Matthew (17 April 2011). "Mutai and Keitany dominate and dazzle in London". World Athletics. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  9. ^ Butcher, Pat (27 January 2012). "Abshero stuns with 2:04:23 debut, Mergia clocks 2:19:31 in Dubai". World Athletics. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  10. ^ "Komon defends Dam to Dam title". World Athletics. 23 September 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2026.
  11. ^ Butcher, Pat (28 October 2012). "Patience pays for Makau in Frankfurt, debut win for Melkamu". World Athletics. Retrieved 21 May 2026.