Bedatu Hirpa

The 20-year-old Ethiopian has had a busy marathon life which began as a teenager with a solid debut to finish third in Madrid in 2:34:47 in 2017.

Athens and its tough course later that year showed her consistency and proved to be the platform for major improvement in Seville in February 2018, running a personal best by almost nine minutes. Frankfurt in October 2018 showed her rise continuing with what remains her fastest marathon to-date: 2:21:32 for third place. She had become a top-level marathoner while still short of her 20th birthday.

Invitations to premier races continued and Hirpa did well in Tokyo in March 2019, finishing fifth in 2:23:43 in what is always a tough field. A month later she sharpened her performance at the half marathon, running a lifetime best to win the Shanghai title in 72:11. Her return to Frankfurt in late October last year proved to be a setback but likely to be temporary in such a young talent.

Age

20

Country

Ethiopia

Best Time

2:21:32

(3rd, Frankfurt, 2018)