Seada Nura Bati
Age: 18
Ethnic Group: Oromo
Native Language: Oromiffa
Hometown: Tejo, Bekoji

Event: 10000m
Shoe Size: 40 EU/6.5 UK/9 US
Training Shoes: Lightweight Neutral
Tops: Small
Bottoms: Small

PBs:
10km: 33:08 (Asella, December 2008)

Family:
I live with my family. I am not married. I have 3 brothers and 7 sisters. I am fifth for the family.

School:
Waje Gusha Primary School Grades 1-5
Asella Primary School Grades 6-8
Asella High School Grades 9-10

Career Goals: I want to be a professional athlete.

Getting to school: I walk, sometimes I run when I am late for school.

Athletics career: I start running when I was in elementary school right after my P.E. teacher tells me I would be good athlete. My role models are Tirunesh and Ejegayehu Dibaba (the "Dibaba Sisters"). I get support and encouragement from my uncle.


Challenged faced:

  • Lack of technical support from the coach
  • Expensiveness of sport-wear and shoes
  • No access to different competitions

Inspiration:

The very reason for me to continue running is the improvement I see in my performance. My hope is to be good athlete to support my family, and to be a medalist in the world championship and Olympics. I also want to have competion with the Dibaba Sisters.

Excerpt from Co-Director's Blog (20 April, 2009):
I met first with Seada Nura Bati and her uncle Menza Bati.  When Seada began to succeed in running competitions through Asella Primary and Secondary School, Menza was the first family member to notice her talent.  Seada has 6 siblings, and for the family to support her in both school and athletics was not easy. Coming up with 200 Birr (roughly 20 USD) several times per year for Seada to buy shoes was challenging,. But Menza saw Seada’s  potential to succeed and prosper as an athlete.  One does not need to look far in Asella to see the economic potential in running.  Among the largest buildings in the area are the ‘Kenenisa Hotel’ (built by 5k/10k world-record holder Kenenisa Bekele), ‘Daratu Tulu Hotel,’ and ‘Gebresilassie Building.’

Menza repeatedly encouraged Seada to persevere, despite any discouragement she faced as an athlete: a bad race, illness, injury, or lack of support. Menza’s vision and the vision of Running Across Borders is a shared one;  Seada’s gift and passion for running can lead her to economic opportunities.  Running Across Borders  will give her every opportunity to become a professional athlete. However, even if she does not succeed, the training she receives with us will give her language and employment skills that will help secure her future.