Elfenesh Alemu Hometown: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Age: 33 Personal best: 2:24:29 (London, 2001) Career notes: A top-ten finisher in two Olympic and two World Championship marathons, Elfenesh Alemu began running the 26.2 mile distance in 1993 and has run over 30 career marathons with remarkable consistency and success. Alemu first ran Boston in 2002, where she finished third behind course record holder Margaret Okayo and runner up Catherine Ndereba. Alemu returned to Boston in 2004 and 2005 to earn second to Ndereba. In 2004 she also finished fourth at the Olympics. Alemu has run Tokyo four times and won the race in 2003. In the half marathon, she holds the course record at the hilly and challenging San Blas Half Marathon from her 2005 win in 1:12:57. Personal notes: Alemu grew up in Bekoji, a town in the Arsi highlands region, in a family of 11 children. She married Gezahegne Abera, the 2000 Boston runner-up and 2000 Olympic marathon gold medalist, in a ceremony held in the summer of 2003 in Addis Ababa Stadium before 25,000 guests. Alemu's wedding veil was a world record 600 feet long and was later cut into 1,000 pieces with guests signing a pledge on each piece to protect themselves from the HIV/AIDS disease. Members of her bridal party included three-time Boston Champion Fatuma Roba and Olympian Derartu Tulu. Alemu trains with the national marathon team in Addis Ababa. -- Courtesy BAA [ Close window ]