Werkuha Getachew

Werkuha Getachew
Personal information
NationalityEthiopian
Born (1995-12-07) 7 December 1995 (age 30)
Sport
CountryEthiopia
SportAthletics
Event(s)
3000 m steeplechase, Middle-distance running

Werkwuha Getachew (born 7 December 1995) is an Ethiopian athlete who specialises in the 3000 metres steeplechase. She won the silver medal in the event at the 2022 World Championships and a gold at the 2022 African Championships.

Career

In June 2021 at the Fanny Blankers-Koen Stadium in Hengelo at the Ethiopian Olympic trial event, Getachew ran in the women's 800 metres, lowering her personal best to 2:00.20 to set an early world lead of 1:56.67 and set a new national record.[1] She became the first woman in the world to break 1:57 in 2021 and secured her spot at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.[2] Despite being named in official documentation and travelling to Tokyo, Getachew was pulled out the day of the women's 800m heats and did not participate.[3]

In December 2021, Getachew ran her first steeplechase race. The following July, she won the silver medal in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the 2022 World Championships in Eugene, Oregon, running an Ethiopian record time of 8:54.61.[4][5][6] She also won the gold medal at the 2022 African Championships in Mauritius.[7][8]

In September 2022, she won her specialist event in Zurich to became the 2022 Diamond League champion.[9] As of September 2022, she placed fourth at the latter event on the world all-time list.

Achievements

International competitions

Representing  Ethiopia
Year Competition Venue Position Event Time
2022 African Championships Port Louis, Mauritius 1st 3000 m st. 9:36.81
World Championships Eugene, OR, United States 2nd 3000 m st. 8:54.61 NR

Personal bests

Circuit wins and titles, National titles

References

  1. ^ "World 10,000m record falls again, this time to Letesenbet Gidey". 8 June 2021.
  2. ^ "2021 Ethiopian Olympic Trials: Gudaf Tsegay (14:13) & Getnet Wale (12:53) Among Six World-Leading Times as New Stars Emerge". LetsRun.com. 8 June 2021.
  3. ^ Ostlere, Lawrence (31 July 2021). "Major threat for 800m gold pulled from start line over Ethiopian dispute". The Independent. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  4. ^ "World Athletics Championships, Oregon 2022". World Athletics. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  5. ^ "Getachew shatters Ethiopian record for World Steeplechase silver in Oregon". Athletics.Africa. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  6. ^ Gault, Jonathan (7 April 2023). "Steeple World Champ Norah Jeruto Suspended for ABP, But Even Her Agent Wants To Know Why She Wasn't Suspended Sooner". LetsRun.com. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  7. ^ "African Athletics Championships". World Athletics. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  8. ^ "Tebogo cruises to 200m title, Enekwechi throws record at African Championships". World Athletics. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Weltklasse Zürich". World Athletics. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 3 January 2026.
  10. ^ "World Leaders by Ingebrigtsen & Korir Highlight 2022 Diamond League Final". LetsRun.com. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.