Personal information | |||||||||||||||
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Full name | Beyenu Degefa Begna[1] | ||||||||||||||
Nationality | Ethiopian | ||||||||||||||
Born | [2] | 12 July 1999||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||
Sport | Athletics | ||||||||||||||
Event(s) | 3000 metres, marathon | ||||||||||||||
Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||
Personal bests | |||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Beyenu Degefa Begna (also spelled Beyenu Degefu; born 12 July 1999) is an Ethiopian middle-distance runner. She is the 2016 World Junior Champion in the 3000 metres and her time still stands as the championship record in that event.
In 2016, Degefa began winning a series of cross country races. At the Cross de l'Acier, she bested teammate Fantu Worku and Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai to win by four seconds.[3] The following year, Degefa won the Cinque Mulini race. She outkicked Kalkidan Fentie in the final stretch to win by four seconds again.[4][5]
Degefa's first and only global medal came in 2016 at the World Athletics Under-20 Championships, where she won the 3000 metres in a championship record time of 8:41.76.[6]
In 2021, Degefa made her debut at the marathon distance at the Valencia Marathon, finishing 3rd in 2:23:01. Her position was later moved up to 2nd after race winner Nancy Jelagat was suspended for an anti-doping rules violation.[7]
Event | Mark | Competition | Venue | Date |
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3000 metres | 8:35.76 | Doha Diamond League | Doha, Qatar | 4 May 2018 |
Marathon | 2:23:04 | Valencia Marathon | Valencia, Spain | 5 December 2021 |