Tirfi Tsegaye Beyene (born 25 November 1984) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who competes in marathon races. She has won the Berlin Marathon, the Paris Marathon (in a course record), the Tokyo Marathon (also in course-record time), and the Dubai Marathon. Her personal best of 2:20:18 hours came as winner of the 2014 Berlin Marathon.

Career Born in Bekoji in Ethiopia's Oromia Region, she comes from a town renowned for producing world class runners such as Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba.Tirfi Tsegaye. Boston Marathon. Retrieved on 2012-04-22. In one of her first major races, Tirfi won the Porto Marathon in 2008 with a time of 2:35:31 hours.Fernandes, Antonio Manuel (2008-10-28). Mugo takes Porto Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-03-22. She improved her best to 2:29:04 hours with a runner-up finish at the 2009 Turin Marathon and then bettered that with a run of 2:28:16 hours for second at the Shanghai Marathon.April 2009 AIMS Results. AIMS. Retrieved on 2012-04-22.November 2009 AIMS Results. AIMS. Retrieved on 2012-04-22. She also made her debut over the half marathon at the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, where her run of 1:09:24 brought her sixth place and a team silver medal with Ethiopia.2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships results . IAAF (2009-10-11). Retrieved on 2009-10-11.

Tirfi was runner-up to Atsede Baysa at the 2010 Paris Half Marathon,March 2010 AIMS Results. AIMS. Retrieved on 2012-04-22. then finished behind her again at the Paris Marathon a month later, although Tirfi's time of 2:24:51 hours for third place was a significant personal best.Vazel, Pierre-Jean (2010-04-11). 2:22:04 World lead for Baysa, Tola improves to 2:06:41 – Paris Marathon report. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-04-22. She again made the podium at the Toronto Waterfront Marathon, setting another best of 2:22:44 hours and finishing second behind Sharon Cherop.Gains, Paul (2010-09-26). Mungara and Cherop take Toronto Marathon titles as Canadian All-Comers records tumble. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-04-22. She was also runner-up at the Shanghai Marathon for the second year running, beaten to the title by Nailiya Yulamanova.Marathon 2010. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-04-22.

She was invited to compete at the 2011 Boston Marathon and she finished in eleventh in the high-profile race.Marathon 2011. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-04-22. She came fifth at that year's Lille Half Marathon then was three seconds behind Shanghai Marathon winner Haile Lema Kebebush in December with her time of 2:24:11 hours (her third straight second-place finish at the race).December 2011 AIMS Results. AIMS. Retrieved on 2012-04-22. At the Roma-Ostia Half Marathon in February 2012 she ran a personal best of 1:07:42 hours for third place.Sampaolo, Diego (2012-02-26). Kiplagat sizzles sub-1:07 at Roma-Ostia Half. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-04-22. She was the pre-race favourite for the Paris Marathon and delivered on the status by winning the race in a course record and personal best time of 2:21:39 hours, over three minutes ahead of runner-up Sultan Haydar.Vazel, Pierre-Jean (2012-04-15). Biwott 2:05 and Tsegaye 2:21 defy windy conditions to set race records at Paris Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2012-04-21. Running alongside her training partner, Aberu Kebede, she was runner-up at the 2012 Berlin Marathon with a personal best time of 2:21:19 hours.Butcher, Pat (2012-09-30). Close victory for Mutai but more straightforward for Kebede in Berlin – REPORT. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-01-31.

In January 2013, she won the Dubai Marathon despite the heavy fog during the race, with a time of 2:23:23, 16 seconds ahead of runner-up Ehitu Kiros.Butcher, Pat (2013-01-25). Debutant Desisa wins Dubai Marathon in 2:04:45, five men under 2:05. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-01-25. She performed less well in her second race of the year, coming seventh at the Frankfurt Marathon in 2:26:57 hours.Wenig, Jörg (2013-10-27). Kipruto and Kilel make it a Kenyan double at Frankfurt Marathon. IAAF. Retrieved on 2013-11-02.

She won the 2014 Berlin Marathon, held on 28 September 2014, in a personal best time of 2:20:18.Mulkeen, Jon & Minshull, Phil (2014-09-28). Kimetto breaks marathon world record in Berlin with 2:02:57. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-10-03.

References

External links

Marathon Info profile