Abebu Gelan
Quick Facts
Biography
Abebu Gelan Adugna (born 18 January 1990) is an Ethiopian female long-distance runner who competes mainly in road running competitions. She has represented Ethiopia three times internationally, competing as a junior at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in 2007, then twice as a senior at the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships (2008, 2009). She was a team gold medallist at the 2008 World Half Marathon. Her half marathon best of 67:57 minutes was achieved in 2009. This time is a world junior best for the distance.
She won the Agadir Half Marathon and Cross de l'Acier races in 2008, then had further wins in 2009 in North America at the Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon and Vancouver Sun Run. Her best half marathon race came at the RAK Half Marathon in 2009, where she was fourth. In 2009 she also had top three finishes at the Azalea Trail Run and Crescent City Classic. After a break in competition, she returned in 2013 with a focus on longer distances. She failed to match her previous performances at 10K and the half marathon and instead made progress in the marathon, having a winning debut at the Belgrade Marathon with a run of 2:33:14 hours. She was runner-up on her next outing at the Košice Peace Marathon but returned to the top of the podium at the 2016 Brescia Marathon.
International competitions
Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Event | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2007 | World Cross Country Championships | Mombasa, Kenya | 13th | Junior race | 21:54 |
3rd | Junior team | 36 pts | |||
2008 | World Half Marathon Championships | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 6th | Half marathon | 1:10:59 |
1st | Team | 3:30:59 | |||
2009 | World Half Marathon Championships | Birmingham, United Kingdom | 21st | Half marathon | 1:11:33 |
Circuit wins
- Brescia Marathon: 2016
- Belgrade Marathon: 2015
- Rock 'n' Roll Virginia Beach Half Marathon: 2009
- Vancouver Sun Run: 2009
- Agadir Half Marathon: 2008
- Cross de l'Acier: 2008
Personal bests
- 10K run – 32:04 min (2008)
- Half marathon – 1:07:57 (2009)
- Marathon – 2:33:14 (2015)