Meselech Melkamu

Meselech 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.