Askale Tafa Magarsa (born September 27, 1984) is an Ethiopian long distance runner, who has specialised in the marathon. Her sister, Tafa Megersa Mergertu, is also a marathon runner.[1]
Career
[edit]In 2005, she was third in the Rome Marathon. In 2006, she won the Milan Marathon and was second at the Berlin 25 km in 1:28.13. The following year she won the Dubai Marathon and was first in the Paris Marathon in 2:25.07. At the 2007 World Championships in Athletics in Osaka she earned a 22nd-place finish.
The year 2008 began with third place at the Dubai Marathon with a time of 2:23.23, finishing 41 seconds behind the winner. In the Boston Marathon, she was fifth. In the 2008 Berlin Marathon she finished second in a new personal best time of 2:21:31. She took part in the 2010 London Marathon and finished fifth, just behind her compatriots Bezunesh Bekele and Aselefech Mergia.[2] She was eleventh at the 2011 London Marathon the following year. She entered the 2011 Chicago Marathon, but was slower than her typical pace and finished eighth overall.[3] She was the runner-up at the 2012 Seoul International Marathon, finishing just behind compatriot Feyse Tadese.[4]
She is currently a member of Marathon Elites Athletic Management Canada/Ethiopia and coached by her husband Tola Daba. Her husband Tola Debel Gudeta is also a long distance runner with a PB of 2:23 hours in the marathon and 1:03 in the 20 km.
Achievements
[edit]- All results regarding marathon, unless stated otherwise
| Year | Competition | Venue | Position | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Representing  Ethiopia
| ||||
| 2007 | Dubai Marathon | Dubai, United Arab Emirates | 1st | 2:27:19 |
| Paris Marathon | Paris, France | 1st | 2:25:07 | |
| Milan Marathon | Milan, Italy | 1st | 2:27:57 | |
- 2005 Rome Marathon 2:32.34, 3rd
- 2005 Berlin Marathon 2:28.27, 3rd
- 2006 Arizona Marathon 2:31.46, 2nd
- 2006 San Diego Marathon 2:29.47, 4th
- 2007 World Championships Marathon 2:38.01, 22nd
- 2008 Dubai Marathon 2:23.23, 3rd
- 2008 Boston Marathon 2:29.48, 5th
- 2008 Berlin Marathon 2:21:31, 2nd
Personal bests
[edit]- Half marathon - 1:09:37 hrs (2008)
- Marathon - 2:21.31 hrs (2008)
References
[edit]- ^ Sampaolo, Diego (2014-04-06). Kiprop and Jepkesho score Kenyan double in Milan. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-04-07.
- ^ Brown, Matthew (2010-04-25). Commanding victories for Kebede and Shobukhova - London Marathon report. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-04-28.
- ^ 2011 Chicago Marathon results. Chicago Marathon. Retrieved on 2011-10-16.
- ^ Yelena Kurdyumova and Sergey Porada (2012-03-18). Loyanae cruises 2:05:37 to shatter course record in Seoul. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-03-24.
