Sunday’s half marathon in Hawassa which focused on protecting its beautiful lake that help the city thrive immensely netted the winners of both the men’s and women’s event 20,000 birr. People from around the country participated in the marathon at the 7 and two kilometer race.
Gete Alemayhu, Bezunesh Lemma and Zewedinsh Ayele were in first through third place respectively.
On the men’s side Sisay Yazew came in first while Negatu Getnet and Habtamu Aseffa were in second and third place.
Many local residents participated in the event as well which was organized by Great Ethiopia Run.

HagosGebrhiwet, the double world 5000m medalist and 2016 Olympic 5000m bronze medallist from Ethiopia, pinpoints an outstanding performance as a U20 athlete and injury hammer blow for his high and low moments.
High
For my high moment, I’m selecting for my first major athletics success, which was setting the world U20 5000m record of 12:47.53 in Paris in 2012.
I had only started running seriously two seasons earlier having started my sporting life as a goalkeeper in football. But I made a rapid ascent in my running career after joining the Mesfen Engineering club in the North of Ethiopia. At the beginning of 2012 – in my first full season on the international stage – I felt ready to perform.
I opened up at the Shanghai Diamond League with a surprise victory, when I managed to beat a top-class field in the rain in 13:11.00. Then in Oslo I ran my first sub-13-minute 5000m time of 12:58.99 to place second. It was a performance which gave me great encouragement.
It was an Olympic year and I knew to make the Ethiopian team for London I would have to run quickly in Paris. I was up against a field of high-class Kenyan and Ethiopian runners and I recall it was run at a very fast pace. During the race, I was aware of the time – it was very exciting.
I was some way behind the winner (Dejen Gebremeskel) but managed to win the sprint for second. As soon as I crossed the line, it quickly flashed up that I had set a world junior record. I knew I had made history and that I had made my mark internationally, and that is why it was such a special moment for me.
Low
My low moment came last year after I picked up an injury. I had high hopes for the season in 2016. I had won Olympic 5000m bronze in Rio and I had been automatically selected for the World Championships in London. Unfortunately, I picked up an achilles tendon injury during a training session in April. I tried to rest the injury but it took some six months or so to come right and it proved very frustrating.
It was the first serious injury of my career and I so desperately wanted to compete in London. Yet following a training run just three days before the start of the 5000m heats, I knew I was in no shape to perform. I hadn’t competed since April, so I had to abandon all attempts to race at the World Championships.
It was a decision made even more difficult by the fact I’d earned the right for automatic selection, which is no easy feat in Ethiopia. Instead, I had to console myself with the fact my Ethiopian teammate Muktar Edris won the 5000m gold in London. I was very happy for him.

After a startling first defeat in the league season, Dilla lost its top spot to late bloomers Debub Police while Kaffa Bunna and Halaba defeated Mekki and Hadiya Hossana to sit third and fourth respectively.
With five consecutive matches without a win Selte-Werabi never expected to mount such a heroic performance. He took football fans by a huge surprise. Despite every effort to set the record straight Dilla failed to cancel out the wining golden goal from Feti Remsheto. As a result the team was pushed off the top spot by rivals Debub Police, who settled for a goal less away draw against home side Wolkite. With three lethal strikers: Biruk Elias, Behailu Wegene and Jaco Arafat, each with six goals, Debub Police’s failure to win denied the travelling supporters a joyful journey back home. Debub Police took the driving seat of the Super League “Group B” table with 20 points from 11 matches and 13 goals in its account while Dilla is second with only six goals.
Thanks to a winning strike from Bereket, Kaffa Bunna collected three points after a 1-0 home victory over Mekki in Bonga Town. Kaffa has twenty points from 12 matches thus sits third in the table because of goal differences. The weekends’ shocking defeat took place in Halaba where the home side Halaba crushed visitors Hadiya Hossana 2-0. The opening goal through Sentayeh Mengestu early in the second half followed by an injury time final nail in the coffin by Abnet Teshome, the home side deservedly took all three points. The nasty theatre of the day happened to Hadiya in just his second match as the newly appointed head coach when is player Ezedin Abdelaa received a red card. Halaba is third, seven points clear of Hadiya Hossana which is in seventh place with 16 points.

A nasty comment over the referee, league leaders Dedebit FC head coach Negusse Desta handed a three months ban from the touch line. It is a huge blow to Dedebit for it misses the service of Negussie at least for the coming six matches.
Many football fans that got frustrated for lack of competent and entertaining football plus players’ indiscipline were expecting the coaches to lead by example in their respective sides Dedebit and Mekle Ketema.
However hardly to contain his frustration following the shocking 2-1 home defeat (the first defeat after six consecutive wins) to visitors Jimma AbaJifar, head Coach Neguse Desta handed by EFF disciplinary committee a three months ban that go along with 20,000 Birr fine for remarking a nasty comment on the match referee claiming a plot is going on behind Dedebit’s title aspiration.
On top of the league table, bossing one of the strong squad and mounting a strong title contention Neguse should have taught better than his hot tempered remark that called for a heavy handed disciplinary measure. The club’s number one striker Getaneh Kebede suspended for four matches following a red card then the head coach no more available in the dugout for three months, there is no argument Dedebit is to face a huge set back in its title dream journey.
Head coach Neguse officially asked an apology remarking that his reaction was too much but it is all about being emotional following the bitter defeat.