Biruktayit Eshetu Degefa (born 29 September 1990) is an American long-distance runner specialising in the marathon and half marathon. She is best known for her three victories at the Houston Marathon and holds a marathon personal best of 2:21:34.
Career Degefa began competing internationally on the road in the mid-2010s, quickly marking herself with major wins. In 2014, she claimed her first title at the Sydney Marathon in Australia, finishing in 2:29:42.
Her association with the Houston Marathon started in 2016, when she won in 2:26:07. After placing second in 2017 (2:30:44), she reclaimed the title in 2018 (2:24:51) and successfully defended it in 2019 with a then–personal best of 2:23:28. She became only the third woman in the race's history to win three titles.
In 2022, Degefa ran 31:23 for 10 km at the Cooper River Bridge Run in April and set a half-marathon best of 1:09:41 in Berlin in October. She then lowered her marathon PB to 2:21:34 at the Valencia Marathon in December, finishing 11th in a deep field.
Personal bests Marathon: 2:21:34 (Valencia, 4 December 2022) Half marathon: 1:09:41 (Berlin, 2 October 2022) 10 Kilometres Road: 31:23 (Cooper River, 2 April 2022)
Achievements Year Competition Venue Position Time 2014 Sydney Marathon Sydney, Australia 1st 2:29:42 2016 Houston Marathon Houston, United States 1st 2:26:07 2017 Houston Marathon Houston, United States 2nd 2:30:44 2018 Houston Marathon Houston, United States 1st 2:24:51 2019 Houston Marathon Houston, United States 1st 2:23:28
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