Great Ethiopian Run 2025 Concludes with Legendary Guests and Stunning Performances
Addis Ababa once again took center stage in the running world as 55,000 people filled the streets for the 2025 Sofi Malt Great Ethiopian Run International 10km race.
Singer Teamir Gizaw, known for her hit song “Minewa” opened the event by singing Ethiopian national Anthem.
This year was especially historic. Giants of world distance running, Khalid Khannouchi,Paul Tergat, Daniel Komen were among the invited guests. Daniel Komen and Khalid Khannouchi, who had been invited completed the course with the masses, coming home in 44 minutes and 50 minutes respectively.
Khalid Khannouchi is a Moroccan-born long-distance runner who later became an American citizen in 2000. He dominated world marathon running in the late 1990s and early 2000s, breaking the marathon world record twice and setting a personal best of 2:05:38. Persistent foot injuries eventually forced him to retire in March 2012, but he has remained closely connected to the sport. Even after retirement, Khannouchi has said he still plans to run for personal enjoyment and stay active in local races, maintaining his lifelong commitment to running.
After finishing the race with the masses, former marathon world record holder Khalid Khannouchi spoke with us about Ethiopia’s training culture: “I’m happy to be on the land of legends. Ethiopian runners are incredibly hard-working. Marathon running is evolving as technology advances, and the sport keeps changing year by year.”
Paul Tergat is one of Kenya’s greatest distance runners, famous for his five consecutive world cross-country titles and his unforgettable track duels with Haile Gebrselassie. After retiring from competition, he transitioned into leadership, serving for eight years as President of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) before officially handing over the role in July 2025. Tergat continues to be a respected global figure in athletics, advocating for stronger continental cross-country competitions in Africa and serving as a 2025 international ambassador for the Brașov Running Festival.
The legendary Kenyan athlete Paul Tergat, remembered globally for his iconic rivalry with Haile Gebrselassie including their unforgettable 10,000m showdown at the Sydney 2000 Olympics also spoke with us about the atmosphere in Addis: “This race is no longer only Ethiopia’s race—it has become a global race. People from all over the world must be part of it. I have rarely seen this much crowd participation in any competition.” His words capture the expanding international reach of the Great Ethiopian Run, founded by Haile Gebrselassie 25 years ago with the aim of promoting fitness, unity, and global friendship.
While the legends celebrated the spirit of running, Ethiopia’s new generation delivered powerful performances on the road. Yismaw Dillu won the men’s elite race in 28:25, finishing just nine seconds shy of the course record set by Deriba Merga in 2006. His victory came after a disappointing miss in the Ethiopian cross-country trials last week, but Dillu showed remarkable form—building on his win at the Cardiff Half Marathon earlier this year (59:23). He was closely followed by Eyob Simeyn, who finished in 28:28, and Dinkalem Ayele, who crossed the line in 28:29. Dillu is scheduled to compete next in Saudi Arabia on December 5.
In the women’s race, Melknat Wudu reclaimed glory by outkicking Fitaw Zeray in the final 150 meters.Two weeks ago she had placed second at the Boston Half Marathon after recovering from a mid-season injury,making today’s victory a major confidence boost. Both champions received 400,000 ETB (about USD $2,650), but more importantly, they added prestigious wins to their growing international pathway.
The Norwegian Ambassador Stian Christensen completed the race in 49:03, emerging as the first diplomat to cross the finish line.
From the elite performances of Yismaw Dillu and Melknat Wudu to the inspiring presence of legends like Khalid Khannouchi and Paul Tergat, the race was a celebration of history, talent, and international unity. We had the unique opportunity to speak with Khannouchi and Tergat, gaining insights into Ethiopia’s training culture and the race’s growing global significance. These interviews will also be part of our upcoming radio program.
