Biruktayit Degefa

Last updated

Biruktayit Degefa
Personal information
Birth nameBiruktayit Eshetu Degefa
NationalityEthiopian
Born (1990-09-29) 29 September 1990 (age 34)
Ethiopia
Occupation long-distance runner
Years active2014–present
Sport
CountryFlag of Ethiopia.svg  Ethiopia
Sport Athletics
Event(s) Marathon, Half marathon, 10K Road
Achievements and titles
Personal bests
  • Marathon: 2:21:34 (Valencia, 4 December 2022)
  • Half marathon: 1:09:41 (Berlin, 2 October 2022)
  • 10 Kilometres Road: 31:23 (Cooper River, 2 April 2022)

Biruktayit Eshetu Degefa (born 29 September 1990) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner specialising in the marathon and half marathon. She is best known for her three victories at the Houston Marathon and holds a marathon personal best of 2:21:34.

Contents

Career

Degefa began competing internationally on the road in the mid-2010s, quickly marking herself with major wins. In 2014, she claimed her first title at the Sydney Marathon in Australia, finishing in 2:29:42. [1]

Her association with the Houston Marathon started in 2016, when she won in 2:26:07. [2] [3] After placing second in 2017 (2:30:44), [1] she reclaimed the title in 2018 (2:24:51) and successfully defended it in 2019 with a then–personal best of 2:23:28. [4] [5] She became only the third woman in the race’s history to win three titles.

In 2022, Degefa ran 31:23 for 10 km at the Cooper River Bridge Run in April and set a half marathon best of 1:09:41 in Berlin in October. She then lowered her marathon PB to 2:21:34 at the Valencia Marathon in December, finishing 11th in a deep field. [6] [7]

Personal bests

Achievements

YearCompetitionVenuePositionTime
2014 Sydney Marathon Sydney, Australia 1st2:29:42 [1]
2016 Houston Marathon Houston, United States 1st2:26:07 [2]
2017 Houston Marathon Houston, United States 2nd2:30:44 [1]
2018 Houston Marathon Houston, United States 1st2:24:51 [1]
2019 Houston Marathon Houston, United States 1st2:23:28 [4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Runner: Degefa Eshetu Biruktawit". Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Houston Marathon 2016 Results". Watch Athletics. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  3. "Ethiopia's Gebo Burka, Biruktayit Degefa take Houston Marathon titles". Houston Chronicle. 18 January 2016. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  4. 1 2 "Biruktayit Degefa of Ethiopia Retains Her Title At Houston Marathon". Ethio Sports. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  5. "Biruktayit Degefa enjoys women's hat trick in Houston Marathon". Houston Chronicle. 20 January 2019. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Eshetu Degefa, Biruktayit". RRM Online Guide. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  7. "Valencia Marathon". World Athletics. Retrieved 19 June 2025.