Above: Derartu Tulu of Ethiopia and Eritrea-born Mebrahtom
`Meb` Keflezighi of the U.S., have won the 2009 New York
City Marathon. Click here for video.
The New York Times
By LIZ ROBBINS
Published: November 1, 2009
Derartu Tulu has raced to history throughout her career, and on a cool, cloudy day of surprises for the New York City Marathon, the 37-year-old runner charged to a remarkable new milestone. She became the first Ethiopian woman to capture New York’s laurel crown in its 40-year history, 17 years after becoming the first black African woman to win a gold medal in the Olympics in the 10,000 meters. Read more.
New York City Marathon winners Derartu Tulu, of Ethiopia, left, and Meb Keflezighi,
pose for photos on the 86th floor observatory of the Empire State Building, Monday,
Nov. 2, 2009, in New York. (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)
About Derartu Tulu
Ethiopia
Age: 37
One of history’s all-time great distance runners, Tulu has excelled in track, road racing, and cross country. She is a two-time Olympic gold medalist at 10,000 meters (1992 and 2000), and she won the 2000 IAAF World Cross Country Championship. She finished fifth in her debut marathon (Boston, 1997) and set her personal record of 2:23:30 when she finished fourth at the 2005 IAAF World Championships Marathon in Helsinki. Tulu is making a comeback; she finished fourth in 1:10:33 at the ING Philadelphia Distance Run half-marathon this September. (Source: ING New York City Marathon).
Video: 1992-Barcelona Derartu wins Gold
Related: Keflezighi’s ‘U.S.A.’ Breaks the Tape
The New York Times
A child immigrant from war-torn Eritrea, and one of 11 siblings in a village with no electricity, Keflezighi traveled an arduous journey to the finish line here and carried decades of American hopes with him. Read more.
Wow, after all those years to comeback and to win the marathon is stunning!, good for you and good luck in the future!
Hi Queen Derartu:
Endemin nesh? Beka zim biye sayish enat agren timesiyignalesh!
Ewodishalehu (I love you)
Derartu has hidden but persistent drive to win. It is no accident that she is a long distance runner, for she is endowed with a long view, a view that takes into consideration the ups and downs of competition, along the way, but ultimately leading to historic victories. Thank you Derartu for marking the name of our beloved motherland for the first time and for eternity in the Central Park (Addis Ababa should have a central park too.),New York City. May I also use the occassion to congratulate our brother Meb Kefleghzi for his victory in the men’s marathon.
What about fellow Habesha Meb Keflezighi, the first place winner who broke the tape with a personal best time of 2:09:15?