Photo: Erik van Leeuwen—GFDL
Meselech Melkamu
ETHWomenMeselech Melkamu (born 19 April 1985) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner. She defeated Meseret Defar to win the 5000 metres gold medal at the 2008 African Athletics Championships, but she is better known for her 29:53.80 run over 10,000 metres in 2009, which until August 2016 ranked her second on the all-time list behind world record holder Wang Junxia.
She is one of seven women in history to break the 30-minute barrier and one of four Ethiopians to accomplish the feat. Melkamu was born in Debre Marqos.
Since 2012, she has competed in road races. She won the 2012 Frankfurt Marathon in a course record and personal best of 2:21:01 hours.
As of Sep 16, 2026: 3000 Metres Short Track 8:23.74, 10 000 m 29:53.80 (#17 all-time), 2016 season best 50:13 (Dec 4, 2016, Heerenberg (NED)) · World Championships: 1 silver · 41 years old
Personal bests
Medals
| 🥇 | 🥈 | 🥉 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | - | 1 | - | 1 |
Performance Charts
Season bests
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Trend | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 15Kilometr | 50:13 | - | Dec 4, 2016 | - | Heerenberg (NED) |
| 2016 | 10MilesRoa | 53:12 | - | Sep 18, 2016 | - | Amsterdam (NED) |
| 2016 | Semi | 1:11:20 | - | Feb 21, 2016 | ↓ | Trabzon (TUR) |
| 2016 | Marathon | 2:21:54 | - | Apr 17, 2016 | ↓ | Hamburg (GER) |
| 2015 | Marathon | 2:26:45 | - | May 24, 2015 | ↓ | Ottawa (CAN) |
| 2014 | Marathon | 2:21:28 | - | Apr 21, 2014 | ↓ | Boston Marathon |
| 2013 | Semi | 1:08:05 | - | Feb 15, 2013 | ↓ | Ras Al Khaimah (UAE) |
| 2013 | Marathon | 2:25:46 | - | Apr 21, 2013 | ↓ | London Marathon |
| 2012 | 3000m | 8:43.93 | - | Feb 12, 2012 | ↑ | Karlsruhe (GER) (i) |
| 2012 | 3000m-short-track | 8:43.93 | - | Feb 12, 2012 | ↓ | Karlsruhe (GER) (i) |
| 2012 | Marathon | 2:21:01 | - | Oct 28, 2012 | ↓ | Frankfurt (GER) |
| 2011 | 5000m | 14:39.44 | - | Jun 9, 2011 | ↑ | Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games, Bislett Stadion, Oslo - Diamond Discipline |
| 2011 | CrossCount | 25:18 | - | Mar 20, 2011 | ↓ | 39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Punta Umbria |
| 2011 | 10000m | 30:56.55 | - | Aug 27, 2011 | ↑ | IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu |
| 2010 | 3000m | 8:40.08 | - | Jul 8, 2010 | ↑ | Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne - Diamond Discipline |
| 2010 | 5000m | 14:31.91 | - | May 23, 2010 | ↑ | Shanghai IAAF Diamond League Meeting, Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai - Diamond Discipline |
| 2010 | 4MilesRoad | 19:46 | - | Oct 10, 2010 | - | - |
| 2010 | CrossCount | 24:26 | - | Mar 28, 2010 | ↓ | 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Myslecinek Park, Bydgoszcz |
| 2010 | 10000m | 31:04.52 | - | May 27, 2010 | ↑ | Mestský Stadion, Ostrava (CZE) |
| 2010 | 10Kilometr | 31:33 | - | Sep 5, 2010 | ↑ | Tilburg (NED) |
| 2009 | 1500m | 4:08.10 | - | Sep 20, 2009 | ↑ | Shanghai (CHN) |
| 2009 | 3000m | 8:51.35 | - | Jul 12, 2009 | ↑ | Tanger (MAR) |
| 2009 | 5000m | 14:34.17 | - | Jun 17, 2009 | ↑ | Ostrava (CZE) |
| 2009 | CrossCount | 26:19 | - | Mar 28, 2009 | ↓ | 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Golf Club Al Bisharat, Amman |
| 2009 | 10000m | 29:53.80 | - | Jun 14, 2009 | ↑ | Dutch 10,000m Championships |
| 2008 | 1500m | 4:08.79 | - | Sep 20, 2008 | ↑ | Shanghai (CHN) |
| 2008 | 3000m-short-track | 8:29.48 | - | Feb 9, 2008 | ↓ | Velódromo Luis Puig, Valencia (ESP) (i) |
| 2008 | 3000m | 8:41.54 | - | Jul 11, 2008 | ↑ | Velódromo Luis Puig, Valencia (ESP) (i) |
| 2008 | 5000m | 14:38.78 | - | Jul 11, 2008 | ↑ | Roma Golden Gala |
| 2008 | CrossCount | 25:51 | - | Mar 30, 2008 | ↓ | 36th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Holyrood Park, Edinburgh |
| 2008 | 10000m | 31:04.93 | - | Jun 12, 2008 | ↑ | Ostrava (CZE) |
| 2007 | 1500m | 4:07.52 | - | May 11, 2007 | ↑ | Doha (QAT) |
| 2007 | 3000m | 8:23.74 | - | Feb 3, 2007 | ↑ | Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart (GER) (i) |
| 2007 | 3000m-short-track | 8:23.74 | - | Feb 3, 2007 | ↓ | Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart (GER) (i) |
| 2007 | 5000m | 14:33.83 | - | Jun 27, 2007 | ↑ | Ostrava (CZE) |
| 2007 | CrossCount | 26:48 | - | Mar 24, 2007 | ↓ | 35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Mombasa |
| 2006 | 3000m | 8:40.99 | - | May 30, 2006 | ↑ | Ostrava (CZE) |
| 2006 | 5000m | 14:37.44 | - | Jun 2, 2006 | ↑ | Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games |
| 2006 | CrossCount | 25:38 | - | Apr 2, 2006 | ↓ | 34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Fukuoka |
| 2006 | 10Kilometr | 31:41 | - | Apr 9, 2006 | ↑ | Dublin (IRL) |
| 2005 | 3000m | 8:34.73 | - | Aug 19, 2005 | ↑ | Weltklasse Zürich |
| 2005 | 5000m | 14:38.97 | - | Jul 8, 2005 | ↑ | Roma Golden Gala |
| 2005 | 5Kilometre | 15:16 | - | Apr 3, 2005 | - | Carlsbad, CA (USA) |
| 2005 | CrossCount | 26:39 | - | Mar 20, 2005 | ↓ | 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, St-Etienne |
| 2004 | 1500m | 4:16.03 | - | Jun 8, 2004 | ↑ | Ostrava (CZE) |
| 2004 | 3000m | 8:57.81 | - | May 14, 2004 | ↑ | Doha (QAT) |
| 2004 | 5000m | 15:00.02 | - | Jun 2, 2004 | ↑ | AC Gianni Brera, Milano (ITA) |
| 2004 | CrossCount | 20:48 | - | Mar 20, 2004 | ↓ | 32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Bruxelles |
| 2003 | 1500m | 4:09.77 | - | Aug 10, 2003 | ↑ | San Sebastián (ESP) |
| 2003 | Mile | 4:33.94 | - | Jun 15, 2003 | - | Lille (FRA) |
| 2003 | 3000m | 8:51.20 | - | Aug 15, 2003 | ↑ | Weltklasse Zürich |
| 2003 | 5000m | 15:27.93 | - | Jun 7, 2003 | ↑ | Sevilla (ESP) |
| 2003 | CrossCount | 20:33 | - | Mar 30, 2003 | ↓ | 31st IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Lausanne |
| 2003 | 10Kilometr | 32:44 | - | Nov 16, 2003 | ↑ | Marseille (FRA) |
2016
6 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
15Kilometr | 50:13 | - | Dec 4 | Heerenberg Montferland Run, Heerenberg |
Marathon | 2:23:21 | - | Oct 16 | Amsterdam Marathon, Amsterdam |
10MilesRoa | 53:12 | - | Sep 18 | Dam tot Damloop, Amsterdam |
Marathon | 2:21:54 | - | Apr 17 | Hamburg Marathon, Hamburg |
Semi | 1:11:20 | - | Feb 21 | Trabzon Half Marathon, Trabzon |
Marathon | 2:22:29 | - | Jan 22 | Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon, Dubai |
2015
4 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marathon | 2:33:59 | - | Nov 15 | Saitama Marathon, Saitama |
Marathon | 2:26:45 | - | May 24 | Ottawa Marathon, Ottawa |
Marathon | 2:26:45 | - | May 23 | - |
Marathon | 2:27:24 | - | Apr 5 | Daegu Marathon, Daegu |
2014
2 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marathon | 2:21:28 | - | Apr 21 | Boston Marathon |
Marathon | 2:25:23 | - | Jan 24 | Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon, Dubai |
2013
4 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marathon | DNF | - | Aug 10 | IAAF World Championships, Luzhniki Stadion, Moskva |
Marathon | 2:25:46 | - | Apr 21 | London Marathon |
CrossCount | DNF | - | Mar 24 | 40th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Myslecinek Park, Bydgoszcz |
Semi | 1:08:05 | - | Feb 15 | Ras Al Khaimah International Half Marathon, Ras Al Khaimah |
2012
3 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marathon | 2:21:01 | - | Oct 28 | Frankfurt Marathon, Frankfurt |
3000m-short-track | 8:47.56 | - | Feb 18 | Birmingham Aviva Indoor Grand Prix, National Indoor Arena, Birmingham (i) |
3000m-short-track | 8:43.93 | - | Feb 12 | Karlsruhe Internationales Hallenmeeting, Karlsruhe (i) |
2011
7 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5000m | 14:45.76 | - | Sep 8 | Weltklasse Zürich, Letzigrund, Zürich - Promotional Events |
10000m | 30:56.55 | - | Aug 27 | IAAF World Championships, DS, Daegu |
5000m | 14:39.44 | - | Jun 9 | Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games, Bislett Stadion, Oslo - Diamond Discipline |
10000m | 31:14.83 | - | May 31 | Golden Spike Ostrava 2011, Mestský Stadion, Ostrava |
5000m | 15:21.77 | - | May 31 | - |
5000m | 14:50.94 | - | May 15 | Shanghai Samsung Diamond League |
CrossCount | 25:18 | - | Mar 20 | 39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Punta Umbria |
2010
9 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
4MilesRoad | 19:46 | - | Oct 10 | Groningen 4 Miles, Groningen |
10Kilometr | 31:33 | - | Sep 5 | Tilburg Ten Miles 10km, Tilburg |
5000m | 14:44.26 | - | Aug 27 | Bruxelles Memorial van Damme, Boudewijnstadion, Bruxelles - EU Cup |
10000m | 31:55.50 | - | Jul 31 | Nairobi African Championships |
5000m | 14:32.73 | - | Jul 16 | Paris Meeting Areva, Stade de France, Paris-St-Denis - Diamond Discipline |
3000m | 8:40.08 | - | Jul 8 | Athletissima Lausanne, Stade Olympique de la Pontaise, Lausanne - Diamond Discipline |
10000m | 31:04.52 | - | May 27 | Golden Spike Ostrava 2010, Mestský Stadion, Ostrava |
5000m | 14:31.91 | - | May 23 | Shanghai IAAF Diamond League Meeting, Shanghai Stadium, Shanghai - Diamond Discipline |
CrossCount | 24:26 | - | Mar 28 | 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Myslecinek Park, Bydgoszcz |
2009
13 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1500m | 4:08.10 | - | Sep 20 | Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, Shanghai |
5000m | 15:32.58 | - | Sep 12 | Thessaloniki IAAF/VTB Bank World Athletics Final, Thessaloniki |
5000m | 15:03.72 | - | Aug 22 | IAAF World Championships |
5000m | 15:18.39 | - | Aug 19 | IAAF World Championships |
5000m | 15:18.39 | - | Aug 15 | IAAF World Championships |
10000m | 30:51.34 | - | Aug 15 | IAAF World Championships |
5000m | 15:03.72 | - | Aug 15 | IAAF World Championships |
3000m | 8:51.35 | - | Jul 12 | Tangier Meeting International, Tanger |
5000m | 14:37.50 | - | Jul 3 | Oslo Bislett Games |
5000m | 14:34.17 | - | Jun 17 | Golden Spike Ostrava 2009, Ostrava |
10000m | 29:53.80 | - | Jun 14 | Dutch 10,000m Championships |
1500m | 4:14.33 | - | May 8 | Doha Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix, Doha |
CrossCount | 26:19 | - | Mar 28 | 37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Golf Club Al Bisharat, Amman |
2008
2 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1500m | 4:08.79 | - | Sep 20 | Shanghai Golden Grand Prix, Shanghai |
5000m | 14:58.76 | - | Sep 13 | Stuttgart IAAF World Athletics Final, Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion, Stuttgart |
Honours
Boston Marathon
Marathon
London Marathon
Marathon
IAAF World Championships
10,000 Metres
39th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Senior Race
Nairobi African Championships
10,000 Metres
Nairobi African Championships
10,000 Metres
38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Senior Race
IAAF World Championships
5000 Metres
37th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Senior Race
IAAF World Championships
10,000 Metres
Valencia IAAF World Indoor Championships
3000 Metres Short Track
Addis Abeba African Championships
5000 Metres
The XXIX Olympic Games
5000 Metres
Addis Abeba African Championships
5000 Metres
Stuttgart IAAF World Athletics Final
5000 Metres
36th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Senior Race
Algiers All-African Games
5000 Metres
IAAF World Championships
5000 Metres
35th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Senior Race
Stuttgart IAAF World Athletics Final
5000 Metres
Stuttgart IAAF World Athletics Final
5000 Metres
Bambous African Championships
5000 Metres
34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Short Race
34th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Long Race
Bambous African Championships
5000 Metres
33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Short Race
33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Long Race
IAAF World Championships
5000 Metres
Monaco IAAF World Athletics Final
3000 Metres
Ethiopian Championships
5000 Metres
Grosseto IAAF World Junior Championships
5000 Metres
32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country U20 Race
31st IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country U20 Race
Frequently asked questions
What is Meselech Melkamu's 3000 Metres Short Track personal best?
Meselech Melkamu's 3000 Metres Short Track personal best is 8:23.74, set on Feb 3, 2007 in Schleyer Halle, Stuttgart (GER) (i).
Which events does Meselech Melkamu compete in?
Meselech Melkamu competes in the 3000 Metres Short Track and 10 000 m.
How did Meselech Melkamu perform in 2016?
2016 season best: 50:13, set on Dec 4, 2016 in Heerenberg (NED).
How many medals has Meselech Melkamu won?
Meselech Melkamu has won 1 World Championships medal.