Tirunesh Dibaba makes history
Helsinki, Finland - Less than five months ago Ethiopians celebrated the double gold medal victory of Tirunesh Dibaba at the World Cross Country Championships in France. Athletics: Dibaba Ties World Record, Berhanu Three-Peats at Carlsbad 5000 By Ryan Lamppa and Basil Honikman, Running USA wireCARLSBAD, Calif. - (April 3, 2005) - At the 20th Carlsbad 5000, Ethiopia's Tirunesh Dibaba ran 14:51 to tie Paula Radcliffe's world road record, while countryman Dejene Berhanu won his third consecutive title in 13:10, the second fastest individual all-time ever. Dibaba's time was the 15th world record broken or tied at Carlsbad since its inception in 1986. On March 20, 2005 19-year-old Tirunesh Dibaba became only the second woman ever to succeed at winning back-to-back World Cross titles. Ethiopian Tirunesh Dibaba delivered a carbon-copy performance of her 8km victory at the World Cross Country Championships to claim the 4km crown. The 19-year-old was content to nestle within the leading pack before she made her move with 800m to go to win in 13 minutes, 15 seconds. ETHIOPIA's Tirunesh Dibaba crushed the women's 5000m indoor world record with a time of 14 minutes 32.93 seconds at the Boston Indoor Games athletics meeting on Saturday, January 29, 2005. 19 Year old Tirunesh Dibaba of ETHIOPIA smashed 5000m World Record The 19-year-old Dibaba clocked 14 minutes 32.93 seconds to chop more than six seconds off compatriot Berhane Adere's world record of 14:39.29 set in Stuttgart in January 2004. Dibaba's older sister, Olympic 10,000 meters silver medallist Ejegayehu Dibaba, was second in 14:58.25. Organizers presented her with a cheque for $25,000 for the world record but the Olympic bronze medallist said it was the Boston fans, not the money, that inspired her. "The fans made me run faster," said Dibaba. "Two months ago, my training was not going very well and I never thought I could do such a thing. Then, things changed. "I will go home with some very good memories."