Yomi Omogbeja (03/01/2005)

Ethiopia's Dejene Berhanu shrugged off the disappointments of 2004 with a late surge to win the 21st MOHA Addis Ababa Municipal Championships held over the new year holidays at the Jan Meda Race Course.

Berhanu, who finished fifth in the Olympic 5000m final in Athens, beat his team-mate Maeregu Zewdu from the Prisons Sports Club to retain his 4km senior municipal title winning in a time of 11:33.

IAAF's Elshadai Negash reported that 'the Ethiopian Half Marathon record holder made winning this race extremely hard work after being left behind during a frantic start.

'Berhanu even had to make a dramatic sidestep to prevent clashing with a fallen runner, and generously held out a helping hand to pick him up and allow him to complete the race.

'That incident gave a leading pack composed of Maeregu Zewde and Mohammed Awol the incentive to push forward, but the 24-year-old Berhanu slowly clawed himself back into the reckoning and eventually overtook the duo with five hundred metres to go to the finish line.'

Zewde managed to hold on to second with Awol coming in third.

An elated Berhanu said after the race: "I was preparing for the indoor season and suddenly, I was forced by my club coach to compete here with three days notice.

"Therefore, I am happy about the outcome. I feel that I am getting better and better this year, correcting my mistakes and improving my finish."

African 5000m champion Etalemahu Kidane dominated the women’s 4km race from start to finish, winning in 13:14.