Young Ethiopian Duo Set Sights on TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon

By August 28, 2025Announcement, Athletes

By Paul Gains

Ethiopian runners from the UK based Moyo Sports management group emerged victorious in both the men’s and women’s races at last year’s TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon with Mulugeta Uma winning the men’s division and Waganesh Makesha taking the women’s.

Now, the group has high hopes for two more of their athletes who have committed to the 2025 edition of the race set for October 19. They are Almaz Kebebe and Adane Anmaw.

Neither would garner much attention under normal circumstances, but the raw potential of these two young women is compelling.

“Toronto is a race that is known in my training group.,” says Adane, 21, who is making her marathon debut at Toronto Waterfront. “We had the winners last year and podiums in previous years. Toronto is a race I have seen on TV.  But more importantly I have chatted to my teammates about it.”

Adane turns 22 on October 21, two days after the race. A year ago, she established her credentials as a world class distance runner with her performance at the 2024 Cardiff Half Marathon where she was 4th in 67:47. To put that in perspective that is two minutes faster than Canadian marathon record holder, Natasha Wodak, has run for the distance.

“I would like to be in the pace for the first group which will mean I can be together with other women, especially my training partner Almaz,” she adds.

Depending upon weather conditions, that group could be targeting the course record Waganesh Makesha set last year (2:20:44). Asked if she is nervous about lining up for her first marathon, she shrugs it off.

“Who doesn’t have nerves sometimes? It is a good thing if managed well,” she responds. “So I am sure I will be a bit nervous. But when the gun goes, I will be focused only on doing a good race.”

Earlier this year she traveled alone to the United States where Moyo Sports had arranged two races for her. She crossed the line second in the Cherry Blossom/US Ten Mile Championships running 51:00.  Adane also took second in the famed Lilac Bloomsday 12km.

“This was great. It was good overall to get some short races in,” Adane explains. “My management has had athletes win in the Lilac Bloomsday and Cherry Blossom 10-mile race before. So, we always have athletes from our team in these races.”

Almaz Kebebe, meanwhile, is the more experienced marathoner of the pair having run a total of two marathons already – both in 2025. Yet, she is still a teenager – turning 20 on September 15th. She was 8th in Dubai in 2:23:30 and also 8th in Rotterdam (2:24:03).

“Dubai was my debut, yes. I was so pleased to run a good first marathon and, even though I was only 8th, for me, this was just the start,” she declares.

“I learnt that patience is important as I was only new to this distance. And that trusting your coach and training is important.”

Almaz was born in Bekoji, the legendary ‘Town of Runners’ known for many of Ethiopia’s Olympic champions such as Kenenisa Bekele, TIrunesh Dibaba and Derartu Tulu. She moved to Addis five years ago. It is where most leading coaches are based. Now she and Adane train together with Waganesh Mekasha and also with Mestawut Fikir, (2nd in 2024 Berlin with a time of 2:18: 48) and Kumeshi Sichala, winner of the 2025 Houston Marathon (2:20:42).  Keeping up with such impressive training partners has given her much confidence.

“I am aiming to run a personal best (at Toronto Waterfront),” she offers. “This is an important next step for me. But I believe I can be on the podium, if not win this race.”

Clearly, this group has developed an affinity for the TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon. Now it’s a case of seeing if whether they can produce more winners of this World Athletics Elite Label Race. Almaz Kebebe and Adane Anmaw are brimming with confidence.

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