Dikinish Mekasha Tefera

Age: 19
Ethnic Group: Oromo
Native Language: Oromiffa
Hometown: Tejo, Bekoji

Events: 10000m
PB:
  • 10km: 33:58 (Asella, December 2008)
  • Half-Marathon: 1:16:00* (Jimma, January 2008)
*Unofficial course

Shoe size: 40.7 EU/7 UK/9.5 US
Training Shoes: stability
Tops: Medium
Bottoms: Medium

Family:
My father is a farmer. I have sisters and brothers who are students.

School:
Tejo Primary School Grades 1-6
Bekoji High School Grades 7-9

Career Goals:
After running I want to open a training camp and coach athletes.


Getting to School:
I used to run to school because the school is too far.

Athletics Career:
I became interested in athletics since 2005. My family does different things to make my dream as runner come true. My coach also helps me to improve my performance.

Main challenges faced:

  • Lack of technical support from coaches
  • Lack of access to competitions
  • Lack of necessary equipment materials for running

Inspiration:
When I watch athletes on TV, I become more inspired. I hope I will improve my performance with my coach. And my goal is to run and beat Tirunesh Dibaba.

Excerpt from Co-Director's Blog (20 April, 2009):

Bekoji is centrally-located among several villages, so the families of the athletes joining RAB were able to come and meet with Abdulay and me.  The fathers of all three, as well as the mother of Dikinesh, all dressed in the traditional cloth gowns of the Oromea people, sat at the table expressing the hope that their children will one day represent Ethiopia in the national sport that is long-distance running

All four parents are farmers, as are a large fraction of the Oromea people. They explained that their children face an even greater obligation to their families: to become equal to or better than their fathers, as is the expectation of children born in the Oromea tradition.  These three young runners--Eda’O, Dikinesh, and Eshetu--through the chances Running Across Borders are giving them in athletics, education, and employment, have the chance to equal or better their fathers in a variety of ways. Before leaving I presented a gift of 1kg of coffee to each of the families, who then held a traditional ceremony to bless the coffee, as well as the RAB project and its future success.