Tirfi Tsegaye has run Boston twice and says, “My previous experiences in Boston motivate me to show my talent on this course.” Tsegaye improved her personal best time in January, winning the Dubai Marathon in 2:19:41. She also won the race in 2013. Last year, she represented her country at the World Marathon Championships and stayed with the lead pack until the final mile when she slowed to eighth. Earlier in the year she finished on the podium at the London Marathon, taking third in 2:23:41. In 2014 Tsegaye won the Tokyo Marathon and set a new course record by almost three minutes. She then went on to win in Berlin in 2:20:18. She has additional wins in Dubai, Paris, Shanghai, and Porto. In February 2013 Tsegaye ran a personal best 1:07:42 at the Rome-Ostia Half Marathon. She is confident her strong performances will earn her a position on the Ethiopian Marathon Team for the 2016 Olympic Games.

Tsegaye trains in Addis Ababa and in Sululta, Sendafa, Sebeta, and Entoto with her team from Demadonna Athletics. She has two sisters, Belaynesh and Melesech. She says she likes to help people, is very talkative, and is extremely hardworking. She also likes to swim. Tsegaye grew up in the same region as running greats Kenenisa Bekele and Tirunesh Dibaba. “Throughout Boston’s streets a number of major athletes have made history in athletics,” says Tsegaye. “I also have a secret wish, that is to try and repeat the fantastic victories of Fatuma Roba, who won three straight Boston Marathons from 1997 to 1999.”

“ I am running bold in the Boston marathon because it is a dream of mine, and I will race for the win. Running is my life!”