JOIN USMergia set to take centre stage
In the big, harsh world of road running, Aslefech Mergia is a name that is hard to ignore.
The Ethiopian with considerable talent has been a consistent performer and because of that, a regular at many of the world’s leading races. Come Sunday, Mergia will return to Bengaluru for the fourth time, looking for her second title at the TCS World 10K.
“I have good memories of the city and am looking forward to the race,” said the 30-year-old, who will be part of a field that includes some top runners in 10K, marathon and cross country races, fighting for the top prize.
Mergia won the elite race here in 2009 and like many of her fellow runners, has gone on to achieve bigger things. “I remember the 2009 race well. It was unique in that the race finished inside the stadium and I came through in a sprint finish,” said Mergia.
She fought off the challenge of Kenya’s Mary Keitany in that race, winning by just a second, after clocking 32:08 to the Kenyan’s 32:09. That sprint finish has been her forte, aiding her in notching some impressive victories on the road, most recently at the Dubai Marathon in January this year. Impressive, because, just 18 months earlier, Mergia had given birth to a baby girl; impressive, also because of her timing — a 2:20:02, just off her personal best of 2:19:31, clocked at the same race in 2012. “It wasn’t that difficult coming back after becoming a mother,” said Mergia.
“I started training three months after giving birth and worked hard to be in shape for the competitions,” added the Ethiopian, whose third victory in Dubai made her richer by 200,000 dollars. Mergia, who won the bronze at the 2009 World Championship marathon and was fourth at the London Marathon this year, also competes on the half-marathon circuit, with each race calling for a different tactical approach. “It isn’t that difficult. The switch between marathon and half-marathon isn’t very difficult but for 10K, it is slightly tough,” she said.
A police inspector back home in Ethiopia, Mergia has to do some running to catch her rivals here on Sunday. But she considers herself a favourite. “There are some very strong ladies out there but I fancy my chances.”
Assahsah withdraws
Meanwhile Morocco’s Malika Assahsah, who was expected to headline the women’s field here, has withdrawn due to injury. Defending champion Lucy Kabuu of Kenya has also pulled out.
Despite the withdrawals, the field has some strong runners, including Wude Ayalew, the champion in 2010, Beyaynesh Oljira, winner of this year’s World’s Best 10K, and Mamitu Daska, champion in the Boston 10K last year and runner-up at the RAK Half-Marathon this year. The men’s race also has some classy runners, with the likes of former World Cross Country champion Japhet Korir, Berlin Half-Marathon winner Birhanu Legese adding gloss.