The Bird’s Nest stadium in Beijing will be hosting the 15th World Athletics Championships, which will commence in less than 10 days. The event is scheduled to be held from the 22nd to the 30th August 2015 in Beijing, China.
More than 2000 athletes from more than 200 nations, including Eritrea, are expected to compete in the Chinese capital. After a tough training session, Eritrean athletes are now all set to take part in the championships and manifest their capacities.
Eritrea’s National Athletic Team will participate in this Championship with Abrar Osman and Aron Kifle in the men’s 5000m., Teklemariam Medhin, Ngussse Amlesom, Abrar Osman and Goytom Kifle in the men’s 10,000m, Beraki Beyene, Amanuel Mesel and Grmay Gebresilasie in Marathon.
Also in women competitions Nazret Woldu will compete in the 10,000m while veteran Eritrea’s athlete Nebyat Habtemariam will go to marathon.
Attaining numerous achievements on half marathon distances and with four consecutive wins in the World Half Marathon Championships from 2006 to 2009, including a fifth title in 2012, and an unforgettable world record at the Lisbon Half Marathon in 2010, Eritrea’s Zeresenay Tadesse is no stranger to victories in the World Championships. Three-time Olympian (2004, 2008 and 2012), Zeresenay is well known for cross country running, winning a gold, one silver, and two bronze medals in the long distance race over five IAAF World Cross Country Championships. And this year Eritrean national team will strive to preserve these prior titles and acquire further glories.
Trainer of the Eritrean team Mr. Iseyas Asefaw states that the team has for long prepared in all aspects as to exceed in the championships. He says he is most certain that the team will attain advanced classifications than those achieved in previous competitions.
Also Livingston Abrham, the Track & Field coach of the national team, also on his part noted that the team is now ready after fulfilling encouraging preparation. He further said that even though the world championship is a tournament where best athletes of the world compete, along with the Marathon runners, Eritrea’s 10,000m. athletes could raise Eritrea’s flag on the podium.
Hopes are high on the 2010 silver medalist and 2013 bronze medalist Eritrea’s Teklemariam Medhin, who has been training hard to coordinate with the team and score best results in the upcoming competition.
In the early stages of his carrier he was nothing more than a junior athlete when he completed various tracks with some respectable ranks. In 2006, he competed in the junior races at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships finishing 13th and 14th in the following years. Silver medalist at the 2012 African Cross Country Championships, Teklemariam Medhin, led the Eritrean team to score second place.
With a personal best run of 27:16.69 for the 10,000 meters at the FBK Games, Teklemariam holds a respectable place in the Eritrean Olympic team as he went on to finish seventh in the 10,000 meters Olympic final. The latest Medihin’s achievements were set at the Winters Cross Country Circuit at the Cross de Constitution and Cross de San Sebastian; registering for himself his 3rd successive success in the 60th International Cross Country competition in San Sebastian, Spain.
Winner of the eighth edition of the Santiago de Chile Marathon, with his most recent record of 2:11:50, Eritrean Beraki Beyene won is also to take part in the championship.
Also going to China with the national team is African champion of the 10,000 meters is Neguse Amlesom who is also expected lead the team to success.
If 24-year-old Nazret Woldu, who has been recovering from injuries, will be joining the national theme and if she finishes the 10,000 meters track in less than 32 minutes, she would secure the chance to participate in the 2016 Olympics that will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Eritrean long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 meters and cross-country running, 42-year-old and mother of two Nebiat Habtemariam, will be making headlines for being a member of the Eritrean national athletics team for 20 years.
Cash prizes of USD 60,000 and USD 30,000 will be given to the athletes who will win the World Athletics Championships and the 10,000 meters category respectively. Attractive monetary prizes will also be awarded to athletes who stand up to 8th place.
The Eritrean team left the country for Beijing, China last night.
