Mare Dibaba in the marathon at the Olympic Games- PHOTO/IAAF
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia May 20- World marathon champion Mare Dibaba is one of six athletes who will represent Ethiopia in the marathon at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.
The Ethiopian Athletics Federation has confirmed its selections – along with several reserves – for both the men’s and women’s marathon.
The men’s team comprises the winners of three of the world’s biggest marathons so far this year: Dubai Marathon champion Tesfaye Abera, Boston Marathon champion Lemi Berhanu and Tokyo Marathon champion Feyisa Lelisa.
Three-time Olympic champion Kenenisa Bekele, who finished third at this year’s London Marathon, has been named as a reserve, along with world silver medallist Adhane Yemane and 2013 world silver medallist Lelisa Desisa.
Dibaba, who equalled her lifetime best of 2:19:52 when winning last year’s Xiamen Marathon, is joined on the women’s team by two-time Berlin Marathon champion Aberu Kebede and three-time Dubai Marathon winner Aselefech Mergia.
Dubai Marathon champion Tirfi Tsegaye, who clocked a world-leading 2:19:41 earlier this year, and Tigist Tufa, who won the 2015 London Marathon and finished second in this year’s race, are the reserves for the women’s team.
ETHIOPIAN MARATHON TEAM FOR RIO
Men: Tesfaye Abera, Lemi Berhanu, Feyisa Lelisa
Reserves: Kenenisa Bekele, Adhane Yemane, Lelisa Desisa
Women: Mare Dibaba, Aberu Kebede, Aselefech Mergia
Reserves: Tigist Tufa, Tirfi Tsegaye
