Copenhagen Road Running Championships: Team Ethiopia

Team Ethiopia, as usual, is sending a strong contingent of athletes to compete at the 2026 Copenhagen World Running Championships, taking place on September 20.

Tsigie Gebreselama and Hagos Gebrhiwet headline, but even the reserves are competitive.

According to Team Ethiopia, all athletes listed will be competing in the half-marathon event.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Kenya One Sports 🇰🇪 (@kenya_one_sports)

The women

Meselech Alemayehu does not appear to have much of a resume to go by; however, she has run the 10km in the time of 32:20 and the 25 km in 1:20:48, both in 2025.

Meanwhile, little is known about Zimam Baraki; however, she did finish second at the Ethiopian half-marathon championships on June 7, and her time is unknown.

Ejigayehu Taye ran one of the fastest half marathons in history two years ago in Valencia, clocking an impressive 1:04:14. The 26-year-old looks to be a major factor in the event. She has international experience finishing fifth and sixth at the Tokyo and Paris Olympics, respectively, in the 5000m event.

At the 2023 Budapest World Athletics Championships, she took bronze in the 10,000m, clocking 31:28.31. Her personal best is 29:50.52.

Last year in Lisbon, Tsigie Gebreselama quietly clocked a 1:04:21. During the 2023 Riga World Road Running Championships the 25-year-old finished in fourth place. She owns a silver and a bronze medal from the World Cross Country Championships. Expect her to be in the mix over the final kilometres.

The men

It has been four years since Getachew Masresha ran the half marathon, where he clocked a 1:00:08 finish in France. The 26-year-old moved up to the marathon and earlier this year ran 2:06:49 in Oita, Japan. Masresha does not appear to have the speed to compete with the 57-minute half marathon runners who will be competing, but you never know with Ethiopia. Anything can and surely does happen with this team.

Likewise, for 26-year-old Bayelign Teshager, he ran just 1:00:22 in New Delhi last year; however, in April, in the Paris Marathon ran a 2:05:23.

One of the heavy hitters for Ethiopia is Hagos Gebrhiwet. It has been nearly three years, but he has run the half marathon as fast as 57:41 in Valencia. The 32-year-old holds the national record in the 5000m at 12:36.73. A decade ago, he earned several medals in the world championships and Olympic Games. He may not be at the perfect age and experience, and should be able to contend for a medal if he is anywhere near as fit as he has been in the past.

Jemal Yimer ran the Sydney Marathon on August 30, 21 days before the championships in Copenhagen. The 29-year-old clocked a 2:04:59. It will be nearly eight years since Yimer ran his PB of 58:33 in the half marathon; however, earlier this year, he clocked a 58:55 in the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon. Seven of his nine half marathons have gone under the hour mark, with two right at one hour.

It appears that Ethiopia may be looking for team wins over individual results. Expect the Ethiopian runners to work together to place in the combined points competition.

Teams

Half marathon

Location:
Where: Copenhagen, Denmark
When: Sept. 20th, 2026
Capacity: 35.000 participants
Price: DKK 799

Half-marathon start times
9:10 AM Elite Women
9:45 AM Elite Men
9:46 AM Elite B+C
9:47 AM Mass Race*

Current world records

Men: Yomif Kejelcha, Ethiopia, 57:30
Women: Letesenbet Gidey, Ethiopia, 1:02:52

Mile start times
10:10 AM Elite Women
10:30 AM Elite Men
10:35 AM Elite B+C
10:36 AM Mass Race

Current world records

Men: Hicham El Guerrouj (Marocco), 3:43.13 
Women: Faith Kipyegon (Kenya), 4:07.64.

5K start times
2:10 PM Elite Women
2:40 PM Elite Men
2:41 PM Elite B+C
2:42 PM Mass Race*

Current world records

Men: Berihu Aregawi, Ethiopia, 12:49
Women: Beatrice Chebet, Kenya, 13:54

*Featured image from tribunarunning Instagram post.