Tsige Gebreselama wins in Lisbon in 64:48!

Gebreselama 64:48

LISBON (POR, Mar 8): Ethiopia’s Tsige Gebreselama won the women’s race in the Lisbon Half Marathon (WA Elite Label) by almost two minutes, winning in 64:48 ahead of Kenyans Janeth Chepngetich (66:50) and Regina Wambui (67:10 PB).

Rwanda’s Emeline Imanizabayo was sixth in a national record of 67:35 while Mekdes Woldu equalled the French record in seventh with 68:20. Mariana Machado was the best of the Portuguese finishers in ninth in 70:10 on her debut at the distance. Former world 1500m champion Abeba Aregawi from Sweden was 11th in 71:29.

Editor’s notes: Want to learn more about Tsige Gebreselama?

1. Tsige was first Women to great 30 minutes on the track in North America, with her 29:48.34 at THE TEN (March 16, 2024).
2. This writer first saw Tsige race at the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in 2024 (February 24, 2024). Tsige ran 1:05.14 for the win. Tsige stayed in the lead group through 16k, and then, began to build a fine thirty-second safety net over second place Ababel Yeshaneh (the former world record holder at the half marathon).
3. The EDP Lisbon Half marathon has been very good to Tsige, as she ran her PB of 1:04.21 on March 9, 2025.
4. At the Paris Olympics, Tsige ran 30:54.57 for tenth in the Olympic 10,000 meters.
5. At the Tokyo World Championships, after a brilliant 5,000m win (14:18) at NIKE Pre in July 2025, Tsige finished 21rst in the heat and humidity of Tokyo, running a sub par 32:33.73.
6. Tsige Gebreslama is coached by Dathan Ritzenhein and runs for the On Athletic Club in Boulder, Colorado.