Meselech Melkamu

Meselech Melkamu

Meselech Melkamu at the 2009 World Championships.
Medal record
Representing  Ethiopia
Women's athletics
World Championships
2009 Berlin10,000 m
World Indoor Championships
2008 Valencia3000 m
World Cross Country Championships
2004 BruxellesJunior race
2006 FukuokaLong race
2006 FukuokaShort race
2007 MombasaSenior race
2009 AmmanSenior race
2010 BydgoszczSenior race
African Championships
2008 Addis Ababa5000 m
2010 Nairobi10,000 m

Meselech Melkamu (born 19 April 1985) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. She defeated Meseret Defar to win the 5000 metres gold medal at the 2008 African Athletics Championships, but she is better known for her 29:53.80 run over 10,000 metres in 2009, which until August 2016 ranked her second on the all-time list behind world record holder Wang Junxia. She is one of seven women in history to break the 30-minute barrier and one of four Ethiopians to accomplish the feat.

Melkamu was born in Debre Marqos. Since 2012, she has competed in road races. She won the 2012 Frankfurt Marathon in a course record and personal best of 2:21:01 hours.