Mare Dibaba
Encyclopedia
Mare Dibaba Hurrsa (born 20 October 1989) is an Ethiopia
n long-distance runner who competes in road running
events.
Her first high profile outing came at the Ethiopian 20 km championships in 2007 and she took sixth place, running for Oromia
Police. She made her international debut at the 2008 Udine Half Marathon and the eighteen-year-old ran a personal best of 1:10:32 hours for second place behind Anikó Kálovics
. Her next run came in November at the New Delhi Half Marathon, where she finished in eighth place but slightly improved her time to 1:10:28.
Mare briefly transferred to compete for Azerbaijan
in 2009, running under the name Mare Ibrahimova, but after she was revealed to be overage for the European Athletics Junior Championships
she returned to compete for her country of birth. Among her competitions representing Azerbaijan was a sixth place finish at the 2009 Delhi Half Marathon, at which she much improved her time for the distance by crossing the line in 1:08:45 (an Azerbaijani record
).
Having reverted back to her Ethiopian citizenship, she further established herself at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
, coming in second place behind Elvan Abeylegesse
. She had led the race at the 20 km mark and her time of 1:03:47 for that point was the fastest recorded by any woman in 2010
, while her half marathon time of 1:07:13 was the second fastest of the year. She made her marathon
debut in March with a quick 2:25:38 time for third at the Rome Marathon. She won the Rabat Half Marathon in April and made her first appearances in the United States
in August, winning the Crim 10-Miler and News and Sentinel Half Marathon. She was one of the leading names at the Frankfurt Marathon
but, in spite of a personal best of 2:25:27, she managed only fifth place in the quick-paced race.
Mare managed third place at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February 2011. Although she was the pre-race favourite at the Los Angeles Marathon
in March, she was defeated by both Bezunesh Deba and Amy Hastings
and came third with a comparatively slow time of 2:30:25 hours. A month later she won the Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon
by a margin of one minute. Although she was not selected for the world championships team that year, she was chosen to represent her country at the 2011 All-Africa Games
, where she won the half marathon gold medal
in a Games record time of 1:10:47 hours. She improved her marathon best to 2:23:25 hours at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon
in October, finishing as runner-up behind Koren Yal. A sixth place finish followed at the Delhi Half Marathon.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n long-distance runner who competes in road running
Road running
Road running is the sport of running on a measured course over an established road . These events would be classified as long distance according to athletics terminology, with distances typically ranging from 5 kilometers to 42.2 kilometers in the marathon. They may involve large numbers of runners...
events.
Her first high profile outing came at the Ethiopian 20 km championships in 2007 and she took sixth place, running for Oromia
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
Police. She made her international debut at the 2008 Udine Half Marathon and the eighteen-year-old ran a personal best of 1:10:32 hours for second place behind Anikó Kálovics
Anikó Kálovics
Anikó Kálovics is a Hungarian runner who specializes in the 10,000 metres and the marathon. She is a three-time Olympian and has won both the Venice Marathon and Italian Marathon.-Career:...
. Her next run came in November at the New Delhi Half Marathon, where she finished in eighth place but slightly improved her time to 1:10:28.
Mare briefly transferred to compete for Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
in 2009, running under the name Mare Ibrahimova, but after she was revealed to be overage for the European Athletics Junior Championships
European Athletics Junior Championships
The European Athletics Junior Championships are the European championships open for those of age. The IAAF defines Junior as athletes who are 19 years of age or under. It is currently organized by the European Athletic Association....
she returned to compete for her country of birth. Among her competitions representing Azerbaijan was a sixth place finish at the 2009 Delhi Half Marathon, at which she much improved her time for the distance by crossing the line in 1:08:45 (an Azerbaijani record
Azerbaijani records in athletics
The following are the national records in athletics in Azerbaijan maintained by the Azerbaijan Athletics Federation .-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:ht = hand timing# = not recognized by federation-External links:...
).
Having reverted back to her Ethiopian citizenship, she further established herself at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon
Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon is an annual half marathon held in Ras Al Khaimah, United Arab Emirates.The first edition, in 2007, saw Samuel Wanjiru breaking the world record, but Wanjiru himself set a new world record only a month later in another race...
, coming in second place behind Elvan Abeylegesse
Elvan Abeylegesse
Elvan Abeylegesse is an Ethiopian-born Turkish middle and long distance track and field athlete, running in the disciplines of 1500 m, 3000 m and 5000 m, but also 10000 m, 2 miles and cross country...
. She had led the race at the 20 km mark and her time of 1:03:47 for that point was the fastest recorded by any woman in 2010
2010 in athletics (track and field)
In 2010 there was no obvious, primary athletics championship, as neither the Summer Olympics nor the World Championships in Athletics occurred in the year...
, while her half marathon time of 1:07:13 was the second fastest of the year. She made her marathon
Marathon
The marathon is a long-distance running event with an official distance of 42.195 kilometres , that is usually run as a road race...
debut in March with a quick 2:25:38 time for third at the Rome Marathon. She won the Rabat Half Marathon in April and made her first appearances in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in August, winning the Crim 10-Miler and News and Sentinel Half Marathon. She was one of the leading names at the Frankfurt Marathon
Frankfurt Marathon
Frankfurt Marathon is an annual marathon held in Frankfurt, Germany in the month of October. The race, currently sponsored by BMW, is Germany's oldest city marathon.- List of winners :Key:- External links :***...
but, in spite of a personal best of 2:25:27, she managed only fifth place in the quick-paced race.
Mare managed third place at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in February 2011. Although she was the pre-race favourite at the Los Angeles Marathon
Los Angeles Marathon
The Honda LA Marathon is an annual running event held each spring in Los Angeles, California. The 26.219 mile footrace, inspired by the success of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games, has been contested every year since 1986...
in March, she was defeated by both Bezunesh Deba and Amy Hastings
Amy Hastings
Amy Joyce Hastings is an Irish actress who has worked in film, television and theatre. Her first role was in the 1990 film Fools of Fortune...
and came third with a comparatively slow time of 2:30:25 hours. A month later she won the Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon
Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon
The Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon is an annual road running competition over the half marathon distance which takes place in April in Yangzhou, People's Republic of China....
by a margin of one minute. Although she was not selected for the world championships team that year, she was chosen to represent her country at the 2011 All-Africa Games
Athletics at the 2011 All-Africa Games
The athletics competition at the 2011 All-Africa Games was held from 11–15 September 2011 at the Estádio do Zimpeto in Maputo, Mozambique.-Men:-Women:-Men:-Women:-Elite competition:-Para-sport competition:-Games statistics:...
, where she won the half marathon gold medal
Gold medal
A gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
in a Games record time of 1:10:47 hours. She improved her marathon best to 2:23:25 hours at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Toronto Waterfront Marathon
The Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is an annual marathon held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on the last Sunday in September. Starting from 2011, the marathon will be held in October. The race day also includes a half marathon and 5 km race....
in October, finishing as runner-up behind Koren Yal. A sixth place finish followed at the Delhi Half Marathon.