The Ethiopian athletes were given warm reception at Bole international Airport
ADDIS ABABA – The country’s athletics governing body, the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, EAF, has awarded Birr 650, 000 for the athletes who won at the World Cross Country Championship held at Aarhus, Denmark last week.
EAF awarded the winners according to the medals they earned. Accordingly the gold medal winners collected Birr 30,000 each, Birr 20, 000 for silver medalist and Birr 10, 000 for bronze medalists was given. EAF said that the money award is helpful to give boost to the morale of the winners. It will also help inspire the athletes who participate in big international meets, according to the federation.
The money prize was handed over to the athletes’ days after they returned from Aarhus, Denmark. The Ethiopian men’s and women’s athletics team emerged first at the 43rd World Cross Country Championship that took place at Aarhus, Denmark. With a tally of five gold medals, three silver and three bronze medals the Ethiopian team emerged first leaving behind neighboring Kenya on 2 gold, three silver and three bronze medals and Uganda with 2 gold, 2 silver and 2 bronze medals to take the second and third places, in the order of that. The domination was clear and sublime.
As one commentator puts it the victory reminded the ‘Great Flood’ era of the Ethiopian athletes in the 80s. In its preview analysis the International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) has correctly predicted that Ethiopians would shine in Denmark. They did it in style. The defending champions Kenya finished a remote second in the championship.
The expectation was Ethiopia and Kenya would show tight contest between their athletes. Well, the contest was exciting and thrilling in that naturally difficult venue but the deference in the medal table is extremely wide. That was indeed the repeat of history of the 80s during the ‘Green Flood’ era. It was a sweeping victory for Ethiopians.
Once again Ethiopians proved as a land of athletics. The Ethiopian athletes were selected by the results they earned at the 36th Janmeda Cross Country Championship held in February. This is the biggest International Association of Athletic Federation (IAAF) race that takes place every two years. Ethiopia and Kenya have been the best performers in this race but the Ethiopian share bigger than its neighboring rival. This is proved right once again.
With 6 successive title wins Kenenisa Bekele has the record in the history of the World Cross Country Championship. Worknesh Kidane has the highest winning record in the women’s event. Derartu Tulu and Tirunesah Dibaba have big name and fame in this championship. Deratu has special history in connection to the World Cross Country Championship.
Just months before the 2000 Sydney Olympics Derartu won the February Janmeda Cross Country race. The win helped her to take part in the World Cross Country Championship that was held in Portugal in which she emerged victorious with little difficulty. The victory was special because it was the first big win for Derartu in two years. She was sidelined from competition for nearly two years because she gave birth at that time.
One could say this is the legacy of Derartu to the Ethiopian female athletes. Derartu is now the President of the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, EAF. Ethiopia began participating in this big international event in the Madrid 9th edition. Ethiopia will take part in the World Athletics Championship in Doha the coming August.
This is a victory that gives heart to the Ethiopian athletes for that big event. In the 42nd IAAF World Cross Country Championship held in Uganda, Kenya emerged first with a tally of 12 medals while Ethiopia won the second place on nine medals. What is confirmed is that the World Cross Country Championship has been fully dominated by African athletes.
The fear is that the world athletics governing body, IAAF, may one day decide to drop the tough cross country race like the 10, 000m and 5, 000m in the Diamond League. The IAAF’s decision to drop the 5,000 meters from its Diamond League track and field series was rejected by Ethiopia and Kenya. Both claim that this is not acceptable and damaging to the middle and long distance races.
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced changes to its Diamond League format as of 2020, including a drop from 32 to 24 events, a reduction from 14 to 13 meetings and a decrease of the maximum current track event distance of 5,000 meters to 3,000m. Ethiopia and Kenya who are dominant in 5, 000m made strong statement against that decision.
Both Ethiopia and Kenya accused the sport’s governing body of trying to “kill long-distance running.” African countries staged the World Cross Country championship five times. Morocco (two times), South Africa, Kenya and Uganda were the host nations.
The Ethiopian Herald April 9, 2019
BY SOLOMON BEKELE
