Werknesh Kidane
ETHWomenWerknesh Kidane (Amharic: ወርቅነሽ ኪዳነ; born November 21, 1981) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner from Tigray who competes in both 5000 and 10,000 metres. She has won numerous medals at the IAAF World Cross Country Championships and represented Ethiopia at the Summer Olympics in 2000, 2004 and 2012. She was the silver medallist at the 2005 World Championships in Athletics and a gold medallist at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
As of Sep 16, 2026: 10 000 m 30:07.15 (#26 all-time), 5000 m 14:33.04 (#69 all-time), 2015 season best 16:00 (Mar 29, 2015, Carlsbad, CA (USA)) · World Championships: 1 silver · 45 years old
Personal bests
Medals
| 🥇 | 🥈 | 🥉 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| World Championships | - | 1 | - | 1 |
Performance Charts
Season bests
| Season | Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Trend | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | 5Kilometre | 16:00 | - | Mar 29, 2015 | ↓ | Carlsbad, CA (USA) |
| 2014 | 10Kilometr | 32:13 | - | Jun 22, 2014 | ↑ | Boston, MA (USA) |
| 2014 | Marathon | 2:29:42 | - | Jan 24, 2014 | ↓ | Dubai (UAE) |
| 2013 | 5Kilometre | 15:32 | - | Apr 14, 2013 | ↓ | Boston, MA (USA) |
| 2012 | 5000m | 15:04.65 | - | Jun 9, 2012 | ↑ | New York adidas Grand Prix, Icahn Stadium, New York, NY - Diamond Discipline |
| 2012 | 5Kilometre | 15:12 | - | Apr 15, 2012 | ↓ | Boston, MA (USA) |
| 2012 | 10000m | 30:39.38 | - | Aug 3, 2012 | ↑ | The XXX Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, London |
| 2011 | 10000m | 31:08.92 | - | Jul 30, 2011 | ↑ | Birmingham (GBR) |
| 2011 | 10Kilometr | 31:23 | - | Jul 4, 2011 | ↑ | Atlanta, GA (USA) |
| 2011 | Semi | 1:07:26 | - | Sep 18, 2011 | ↑ | Philadelphia, PA (USA) |
| 2011 | Marathon | 2:26:15 | - | Apr 18, 2011 | ↓ | Boston Marathon |
| 2010 | 5Kilometre | 15:35 | - | Sep 5, 2010 | ↓ | London (GBR) |
| 2010 | CrossCount | 25:07 | - | Mar 28, 2010 | ↓ | 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Myslecinek Park, Bydgoszcz |
| 2010 | 10Kilometr | 31:18 | - | Jun 12, 2010 | ↑ | New York adidas Grand Prix, Icahn Stadium, New York, NY - Diamond Discipline |
| 2010 | Semi | 1:08:31 | - | Sep 19, 2010 | ↑ | Philadelphia, PA (USA) |
| 2009 | 10000m | 31:19.00 | - | May 30, 2009 | ↑ | Stockholm (SWE) |
| 2009 | Semi | 1:09:59 | - | Mar 28, 2009 | ↑ | Praha (CZE) |
| 2008 | Semi | 1:12:07 | - | Oct 5, 2008 | ↑ | South Shields (GBR) |
| 2005 | 3000m | 8:36.39 | - | Jun 11, 2005 | ↑ | New York, NY (USA) |
| 2005 | 5000m | 15:04.22 | - | Jul 8, 2005 | ↑ | Roma Golden Gala |
| 2005 | CrossCount | 26:37 | - | Mar 20, 2005 | ↓ | 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, St-Etienne |
| 2005 | 10000m | 30:19.39 | - | May 29, 2005 | ↑ | Palo Alto, CA (USA) |
| 2005 | Semi | 1:08:09 | - | Sep 18, 2005 | ↑ | Virginia Beach, VA (USA) |
| 2004 | 5000m | 14:38.05 | - | Jul 2, 2004 | ↑ | Roma Golden Gala |
| 2004 | CrossCount | 27:34 | - | Mar 20, 2004 | ↓ | 32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Bruxelles |
| 2004 | 10000m | 30:28.30 | - | Aug 27, 2004 | ↑ | The XXVIII Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Athina |
| 2003 | 1500m | 4:16.93 | - | Apr 26, 2003 | ↑ | Addis Abeba (ETH) |
| 2003 | 3000m | 8:39.51 | - | Jul 4, 2003 | ↑ | Paris-St-Denis Meeting Gaz de France |
| 2003 | 5000m | 14:33.04 | - | Jun 27, 2003 | ↑ | Oslo ExxonMobil Bislett Games |
| 2003 | CrossCount | 25:53 | - | Mar 30, 2003 | ↓ | 31st IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Lausanne |
| 2003 | 10000m | 30:07.15 | - | Aug 23, 2003 | ↑ | IAAF World Championships |
| 2003 | 10Kilometr | 34:55 | - | Nov 30, 2003 | ↑ | Addis Abeba (ETH) |
| 2002 | 1500m | 4:15.51 | - | Jul 8, 2002 | ↑ | Zagreb (CRO) |
| 2002 | 3000m | 8:41.58 | - | Jul 19, 2002 | ↑ | Monaco Herculis |
| 2002 | CrossCount | 13:36 | - | Mar 24, 2002 | ↓ | 30th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Dublin |
| 2002 | 5000m | 14:43.53 | - | Sep 6, 2002 | ↑ | Berlin ISTAF |
| 2002 | 5Kilometre | 15:20 | - | Apr 7, 2002 | ↓ | Carlsbad, CA (USA) |
| 2002 | 10Kilometr | 34:34 | - | Nov 3, 2002 | ↑ | Addis Abeba (ETH) |
| 2001 | 1500m | 4:18.00 | - | Jul 2, 2001 | ↑ | Zagreb (CRO) |
| 2001 | 3000m-short-track | 8:46.56 | - | Mar 10, 2001 | - | IAAF World Indoor Championships, Atlantic Pavillion, Lisboa (i) |
| 2001 | 3000m | 9:03.74 | - | Jun 29, 2001 | ↑ | Roma Golden Gala |
| 2001 | CrossCount | 15:06 | - | Mar 25, 2001 | ↓ | 29th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Ostende |
| 2001 | 5000m | 15:29.96 | - | Aug 9, 2001 | ↑ | IAAF World Championships, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton |
| 2001 | 10000m | 31:43.41 | - | Jun 17, 2001 | ↑ | Villeneuve d'Ascq (FRA) |
| 2000 | 3000m | 8:44.14 | - | Jun 7, 2000 | ↑ | Milano (ITA) |
| 2000 | 5000m | 14:47.40 | - | Sep 25, 2000 | ↑ | The XXVII Olympic Games |
| 2000 | CrossCount | 20:52 | - | Mar 18, 2000 | ↓ | 28th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Vilamoura |
| 1999 | 1500m | 4:23.98 | - | Jul 11, 1999 | ↑ | Ingolstadt (GER) |
| 1999 | 3000m | 9:07.54 | - | May 22, 1999 | ↑ | Dedham, MA (USA) |
| 1999 | 5000m | 15:24.56 | - | Jul 3, 1999 | ↑ | St-Denis (FRA) |
| 1999 | CrossCount | 21:26 | - | Mar 27, 1999 | ↓ | 27th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Belfast |
| 1999 | 10Kilometr | 33:01 | - | May 31, 1999 | ↑ | Boulder, CO (USA) |
| 1998 | 3000m | 9:02.40 | - | Jun 5, 1998 | ↑ | Milano (ITA) |
| 1998 | 5000m | 15:50.10 | - | May 24, 1998 | ↑ | Kerkrade (NED) |
| 1998 | CrossCount | 19:34 | - | Mar 21, 1998 | ↓ | 26th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Marrakech |
| 1997 | CrossCount | 15:32 | - | Mar 23, 1997 | ↓ | 25th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Torino |
2015
1 performance| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5Kilometre | 16:00 | - | Mar 29 | Carlsbad 5000, Carlsbad, CA |
2014
2 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10Kilometr | 32:13 | - | Jun 22 | Boston B.A.A 10K, Boston, MA |
Marathon | 2:29:42 | - | Jan 24 | Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon, Dubai |
2013
2 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5Kilometre | 15:32 | - | Apr 14 | Boston B.A.A 5K, Boston, MA |
5Kilometre | 15:35 | - | Apr 7 | Carlsbad 5000, Carlsbad, CA |
2012
7 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
10000m | 30:39.38 | - | Aug 3 | The XXX Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, London |
10000m | 31:28.19 | - | Jun 23 | UK Championships, Birmingham |
5000m | 15:04.65 | - | Jun 9 | New York adidas Grand Prix, Icahn Stadium, New York, NY - Diamond Discipline |
10000m | 30:50.16 | - | Jun 1 | Eugene Prefontaine Classic, Hayward Field, Eugene, OR - Diamond Discipline |
5000m | 15:05.79 | - | Jun 1 | - |
5Kilometre | 15:12 | - | Apr 15 | Boston B.A.A. 5K, Boston, MA |
5Kilometre | 15:13 | - | Apr 1 | Carlsbad 5000, Carlsbad, CA |
2011
7 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Marathon | 2:33:08 | - | Nov 6 | New York City Marathon |
Semi | 1:07:26 | - | Sep 18 | Philadelphia ING Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, Philadelphia, PA |
10000m | 31:08.92 | - | Jul 30 | Birmingham UK Championships, Birmingham |
10Kilometr | 31:23 | - | Jul 4 | Atlanta Peachtree Road Race, Atlanta, GA |
Marathon | 2:26:15 | - | Apr 18 | Boston Marathon |
Semi | 1:09:32 | - | Mar 20 | New York City Half Marathon, New York, NY |
Marathon | 2:27:15 | - | Jan 21 | Dubai Standard Chartered Marathon, Dubai |
2010
5 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Semi | 1:08:31 | - | Sep 19 | Philadelphia ING Rock 'n' Roll Half-Marathon, Philadelphia, PA |
5Kilometre | 15:35 | - | Sep 5 | London adidas Women's 5-K Challenge, London |
10Kilometr | 31:18 | - | Jun 12 | New York adidas Grand Prix, Icahn Stadium, New York, NY - Diamond Discipline |
10Kilometr | 31:19 | - | May 16 | Manchester Great Run, Manchester |
CrossCount | 25:07 | - | Mar 28 | 38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Myslecinek Park, Bydgoszcz |
2009
5 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Semi | 1:10:55 | - | Dec 6 | Las Vegas Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, Las Vegas, NV |
Semi | 1:11:18 | - | Sep 20 | South Shields BUPA Great North Run, South Shields |
10000m | 31:19.00 | - | May 30 | Stockholm |
10000m | 33:43.48 | - | May 2 | Ethiopian Championships, Addis Abeba |
Semi | 1:09:59 | - | Mar 28 | Praha Half Marathon, Praha |
2008
1 performance| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Semi | 1:12:07 | - | Oct 5 | South Shields BUPA Great North Run, South Shields |
2005
13 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Semi | 1:08:09 | - | Sep 18 | South Shields BUPA Great North Run, South Shields |
Semi | 1:09:48 | - | Sep 4 | Virginia Beach Rock'n'Roll Half Marathon, Virginia Beach, VA |
10000m | 30:32.47 | - | Aug 6 | IAAF World Championships, Olympiastadion, Helsinki |
5000m | 15:17.0 | - | Aug 6 | - |
5000m | 15:04.22 | - | Jul 8 | Roma Golden Gala |
3000m | 8:36.39 | - | Jun 11 | New York Reebok Grand Prix, New York, NY |
10000m | 30:19.39 | - | May 29 | Palo Alto Payton Jordan US Open, Palo Alto, CA - National Events |
5000m | 15:45.0HT | - | May 8 | Ethiopian Championships, Addis Abeba |
10000m | 32:50.6HT | - | May 5 | Ethiopian Championships, Addis Abeba |
CrossCount | 13:16 | - | Mar 20 | 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, St-Etienne |
CrossCount | 26:37 | - | Mar 20 | 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, St-Etienne |
CrossCount | 13:16 | - | Mar 19 | 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, St-Etienne |
CrossCount | 26:37 | - | Mar 19 | 33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, St-Etienne |
2004
7 performances| Discipline | Result | Wind | Date | Competitions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5000m | 15:01.27 | - | Sep 18 | Monaco IAAF World Athletics Final, Stade Louis II, Monaco |
10000m | 30:28.30 | - | Aug 27 | The XXVIII Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Athina |
10000m | 30:28.30 | - | Aug 18 | The XXVIII Olympic Games, Olympic Stadium, Athina |
5000m | 14:38.05 | - | Jul 2 | Roma Golden Gala |
CrossCount | 13:14 | - | Mar 21 | 32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Bruxelles |
CrossCount | 27:34 | - | Mar 20 | 32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Bruxelles |
CrossCount | 13:14 | - | Mar 20 | 32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships, Bruxelles |
Honours
The XXX Olympic Games
10,000 Metres
Boston Marathon
Marathon
38th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Senior Race
33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Long Race
IAAF World Championships
10,000 Metres
Ethiopian Championships
10,000 Metres
33rd IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Short Race
32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Long Race
The XXVIII Olympic Games
10,000 Metres
32nd IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Short Race
Monaco IAAF World Athletics Final
5000 Metres
Ethiopian Championships
10,000 Metres
IAAF World Championships
10,000 Metres
31st IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Long Race
31st IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Short Race
Abuja All Africa Games
10,000 Metres
Monaco IAAF World Athletics Final
5000 Metres
30th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Short Race
29th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country Short Race
28th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country U20 Race
The XXVII Olympic Games
5000 Metres
Johannesburg All-Africa Games
5000 Metres
27th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country U20 Race
26th IAAF World Cross Country Championships
Cross Country U20 Race
Annecy IAAF World Junior Championships
5000 Metres
Frequently asked questions
What is Werknesh Kidane's 10 000 m personal best?
Werknesh Kidane's 10 000 m personal best is 30:07.15, set on Aug 23, 2003 in Stade de France, Paris-St-Denis (FRA), #26 on the all-time list.
Which events does Werknesh Kidane compete in?
Werknesh Kidane competes in the 10 000 m and 5000 m.
How did Werknesh Kidane perform in 2015?
2015 season best: 16:00, set on Mar 29, 2015 in Carlsbad, CA (USA).
How many medals has Werknesh Kidane won?
Werknesh Kidane has won 1 World Championships medal.