The 23rd edition of the Women First 5km brought the streets of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia to life on Sunday morning, as thousands of participants turned out in large numbers despite the cold and chilly conditions.
The women-only race, now a staple on Ethiopia’s athletics calendar, once again highlighted the growing strength of community running and female empowerment through sport.
Berinesh Desse led the race in 15:22.2 retaining her title she won last year ahead of Robe Dida 15:23.2 while Senayet Getachew was third after she clocked 15:30.3.
The event is the brainchild of Ethiopian legend Haile Gebreselassie, whose vision has been instrumental in nurturing a vibrant running culture across the country.
Beyond this race, Gebreselassie is also the founder of the iconic Great Ethiopian Run, which has become one of Africa’s largest mass-participation road races.
Sunday’s event not only celebrated athleticism but also unity, as women from diverse backgrounds ranging from elite runners to recreational joggers shared the same course through the streets of Addis Ababa.
The race continues to provide a platform for women to express themselves, stay active, and connect through sport in a supportive environment.
The Women First 5km sponsored by Safaricom builds on the legacy of the Great Ethiopian Run, which marked its 25th anniversary in November last year, attracting over 55,000 participants in a colorful celebration of endurance and culture.
That milestone underscored the growing popularity of road running in Ethiopia and its role in bringing communities together.
Speaking during the event, Gebrselassie emphasized the power of sport as a unifying force.
He noted that running is deeply embedded in Ethiopia’s identity and serves as a bridge across generations and social divides and for him, events like the Women First 5km are not just about competition, but about celebrating a shared passion and inspiring healthier, more connected communities.
“It’s so nice seeing more than 15,000 women turning up for the race despite the chilly weather and that clearly shows that they want to run and celebrate the race meant for them. Our running culture is growing and we shall continue promoting the races and make them bigger every year,” said Haile.
The Race Director Dagmawit Amare on her part said that the organization stages almost 20 races each year across Ethiopia but what stands out is the Women First 5km race terming it a big party that brings women together.
“This is a celebration for women’s achievements across the country and it’s a day where we smile to inspire others despite the challenges people go through in their daily life. It also showcases what women can do when they come together,” said Amare.
Last year in November, a new partner Bank of America who also sponsors races like Boston Marathon and Chicago Marathon came on board to partner with the Great Ethiopian Run 10km for the next five years.
Other races apart from the Great Ethiopian Run 10km include, the Hawassa Half Marathon, Jimma 10km Run, Arba Minch 10km, Bokoji 10km Run among others.