Yebrgual Melese Arage (born Yebrgual Melese; ; 18 April 1990 – 12 May 2026) was an Ethiopian long-distance runner. She placed second at the 2015 Chicago Marathon, 2017 Frankfurt Marathon in 2:24:30, and 2025 Barcelona Marathon in 2:20:47. Melese won 2019 Shanghai International Marathon in 2:23:19 and the 2018 Shanghai International Marathon in 2:20:36.
Melese died on 12 May 2026, at the age of 36, after collapsing during a training session.Ethiopian Athletics Community Mourns as Marathon Star Yebrgual Melese Passes Away at 36
Career At the 43rd Chevron Houston Marathon in 2016, Melese ran the second-fastest time ever by a woman in Houston.
Melese smashed the course record at the 19th edition of the Shanghai International Marathon in 2018.
10 kilometres2011Ethiopian Athletics Federation Track and Field ChampionshipsAddis Ababa, Ethiopia6th10 km33:35.49France Clermont-Ferrand Road 10 kmClermont-Ferrand, France3rd10 km32:542013Ethiopian Athletics Federation Track and Field ChampionshipsAddis Ababa, Ethiopia1st10 km33:32.63Peachtree Road RaceAtlanta, GA, United States3rd10 km32:16Beach to Beacon 10KCape Elizabeth, ME, United States4th10 km31:402015Great Ethiopian RunAddis Ababa, Ethiopia2nd10 km33:11Representing 2013World Cross Country ChampionshipsBydgoszcz, Poland29th8 km25:442015All-Africa GamesBrazzaville, Congo3rdHalf marathon1:12:42Marathons representing Nike2014Dubai Standard Chartered MarathonDubai, United Arab Emirates13thMarathon2:29:46Paris MarathonParis, France2ndMarathon2:26:21Gold Coast Airport MarathonGold Coast, Australia4thMarathon2:32:492015Houston MarathonHouston, TX, United States1stMarathon2:23:23Prague MarathonPrague, Czech Republic1stMarathon2:23:49Chicago MarathonChicago, IL, United States2ndMarathon2:23:432016Paris MarathonParis, France5thMarathon2:32:06Chicago MarathonChicago, IL, United States5thMarathon2:24:492017Dubai Standard Chartered MarathonDubai, United Arab Emirates3rdMarathon2:23:13Paris MarathonParis, France5thMarathon2:22:51Frankfurt MarathonFrankfurt am Main, Germany2ndMarathon2:24:302018Dubai Standard Chartered MarathonDubai, United Arab Emirates3rdMarathon2:19:36Dongying Yellow River MarathonDongying, China2ndMarathon2:27:47Shanghai International MarathonShanghai, China1stMarathon2:20:36 Half marathons representing Nike2014Paris Half MarathonParis, France1stHalf marathon1:09:232015Paris Half MarathonParis, France1stHalf marathon1:09:54Prague Half MarathonPrague, Czech Republic2ndHalf marathon1:08:212018Portugal Half MarathonLisbon, Portugal1stHalf marathon1:07:18
Personal bests Distance Performance Location Date Notes 10,000 m 32:38 Appingedam, Netherlands 30 June 2012 Half marathon 1:07:18 Lisbon, Portugal 14 October 2018 Marathon 2:19:36 Dubai, United Arab Emirates 26 January 2018
Personal life Melese is survived by her husband, and two children.Ethiopian marathon runner Melese dies aged 36 BBC World ServiceEthiopian marathon star Yebrgual Melese dies at 36 MSN
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