Askale Tafa Magarsa
![[Photo of Askale Tafa Magarsa]](http://static.worldmarathonmajors.com/images/athletes/wmm_6144977568913.jpg)
ETHIOPIA
BIRTHDATE:
27 September 1984
PERSONAL BEST:
2:21:31 (Berlin, 2008)
WORLD MARATHON MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:
25Apr10 Virgin London Marathon 5th 2:24:39
20Sep09 real,- Berlin Marathon DNF
28Sep08 real,- Berlin Marathon 2nd 2:21:31
21Apr08 Boston Marathon 5th 2:29:48
09Sep07 IAAF World Championships, Osaka 22nd 2:38:01
25Sep05 real,- Berlin Marathon 3rd 2:28:27
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
22Jan10 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 6th 2:27:27
18Jan08 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 3rd 2:23:23
15Apr07 Paris International Marathon 1st 2:25:07
12Jan07 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 1st 2:27:19
08Oct06 Samsung Milano City Marathon 1st 2:27:57
04Jun06 Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon 4th 2:29:47
15Jan06 P.F. Chang’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Arizona Marathon 2nd 2:31:46
13Mar05 Rome Marathon 3rd 2:32:34
CAREER NOTES:
Askale Tafa Magarsa has shown great improvement since her first marathon at the age of 20. Her personal best times have progressed from 2:28:27 (2005); 2:27:57 (2006); 2:25:07 (2007); 2:21:31 (2008).
She has demonstrated her ability to run well in warm weather conditions at both Dubai and Paris in 2007. She prevailed at the former race in 2:27:19 and was victorious at the latter race in 2:25:07. In January 2008 she finished 41 seconds out of first place at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon, knocking 1:44 off her previous PR.
In April 2008 she scored her first World Marathon Majors point by finishing in fifth place. Then in September she set out on a very aggressive 2:18 marathon pace for the first half of the Berlin Marathon. Although Irina Mikitenko eventually sped by her, Tafa reached the finish line in 2:21:31 making her the second fastest Ethiopian marathoner of all-time.
After a DNF in her only 2009 marathon, Tafa scored another World Marathon Majors point with a fifth at London, 2010.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Askale Tafa Magarsa was born in Ethiopia in the same Arsi Province as Kenenisa Bekele. Her husband is world-class distance runner Tola Debele Gudeta, who has run 1:03 for 20K and paced Askale to the finish in both of her marathon PRs in 2008. Tafa trains in Europe with other members of the Rosa Associ management group.