Olympic distance medallists Sileshi Sihine and Tirunesh Dibaba were upstaged by little-known Ethiopian athletes in the 10km Great Ethiopian Run in Addis Ababa today.
Sihine, silver medallist in Athens over 10,000 metres, was overshadowed by Abebe Dinkissa in the men's road race while Dibaba, winner of Olympic bronze over 5,000 metres, could not match Genet Getaneh in the women's event.
Ethiopian Prison Service runner Dinkissa won the men's title in a time of 29 minutes 56.1 seconds, ahead of second-placed Zenbaba Yigezu and Mearegu Zwede, in third.
Getaneh dominated the women's competition with a time of 34 minutes and 18.93 seconds. Teiba Erkesa placed second, in 34:31.85, with Eyerusalem Kuma third, in 34:34.64.
The Great Ethiopian Run, organised by former quadruple world and double Olympic 10,000m champion Haile Gebrselassie, has helped launch the careers of several world-class athletes from the African country.
This year's event attracted 20,000 runners.
