Gete Wami
ETHIOPIA
BIRTHDATE:
December 12, 1974
PERSONAL BEST:
2:21:34 (Berlin, 2006)
WORLD MARATHON MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS:
02Nov08 ING New York City Marathon 6th 2:29:25
17Aug08 Olympic Games Marathon, Beijing DNF
13Apr08 Flora London Marathon 3rd 2:25:37
04Nov07 ING New York City Marathon 2nd 2:23:32
30Sep07 real,-Berlin Marathon 1st 2:23:17
22Apr07 Flora London Marathon 2nd 2:21:45
24Sep06 real,- Berlin Marathon 1st 2:21:34
06Nov05 ING New York City Marathon 7th 2:27:40
ADDITIONAL CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
19Mar06 Los Angeles Marathon 2nd 2:25:26
05Jun05 Rock ’n’ Roll San Diego Marathon 1st 2:30:55
21Nov04 Tokyo Marathon 8th 2:32:07
20Oct02 Amsterdam Marathon 1st 2:22:19
CAREER NOTES:
When the athletics’ historians write the annals of women’s distance running of the late 1990s and into the 21st century, Getenesh Wami’s name is sure to be included. Global titles on the track and in cross-country will ensure that as well as epic contests against her fellow Ethiopian Derartu Tulu and Britain’s Paula Radcliffe.
Wami has won 19 individual and team medals in World Cross-Country competition, including individual golds in 1996 and 1999 (long race) and 2001 (short race). She was the Olympic bronze medalist at 10,000m in 1996 and then won silver (10,000m) and bronze (5000m) medals four years later in Sydney. She also earned the bronze medal for 10,000 at the 2001 IAAF World Championships.
She also has enjoyed success on the roads, including her first marathon, a 2:22:19 victory at Amsterdam in 2002, at the time the second fastest debut in history. At Tokyo in 2004 and New York in 2005 she found herself some distance behind the winners, but in between she claimed another first place at the June 2005 Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in San Diego.
March of 2006 found her in pursuit of not only marathon victory but an intriguing bonus. The race organizers of the Los Angeles Marathon offered $100,000 to the first runner to cross the finish line, male or female. The women’s race began 16 minutes, 46 seconds ahead of the men’s and Wami found herself in a duel with the Russian Lidiya Grigoryeva in the last mile, losing by 16 seconds. And that was exactly the margin by which the Russian kept the men’s champion, Benson Cherono, at bay, ensuring she won the $100,000 bonus.
Wami then ran in her third World Marathon Major at the real-, Berlin Marathon in September 2006 and not only won convincingly, but set a new Ethiopian National Record, finishing in 2:21:34 (since broken by Berhane Adere).
Facing warm temperatures at the 2007 Flora London Marathon, Wami stayed with China's Zhou Chunxiu until the 24th mile. Despite falling back to second place she reached the finish in 2:21:45, just 11 seconds off her PR. She then successfully defended her real,-Berlin Marathon on the final day of September which put her on top of the 2006-07 World Marathon Majors standings.
Wami decided to compete in New York just five weeks later knowing that if she beat Jelena Prokopcuka head-to-head she would automatically take home the $500,000 WMM first prize. Instead she daringly challenged eventual winner Paula Radcliffe, even briefly taking the lead just outside Central Park. Despite her eventual second place finish, Wami secured the vital points which guaranteed her the honor of inaugural World Marathon Majors champion.
There was high drama for Wami at the 2008 Flora London Marathon. In the lead at the 30km aid station, she got tangled up with another competitor and fell hard. She lost 100 meters on the front pack but remarkably she soon caught back up to the leaders. However, Wami couldn't stay with the top two over the final miles and crossed the line third in 2:25:37 limping in pain.
Although she was unable to finish the Olympic Games Marathon, Wami came back with a victory and personal record time (1:08:51) at the Great North Run half-marathon in October.
She returned to New York City with a chance to win the 2007-08 World Marathon Majors title by placing 1st or 2nd. However, she was sixth and ended with the same point total as Irina Mikitenko, who was voted the winner by the WMM race directors.
PERSONAL NOTES:
Gete Wami was born in Debre Birhan, Ethiopia. She married Geteneh Tessema in November 1999 and they have a daughter Eva born in August 2003.
