A Late Fight in the Men’s Race<\/h2>\n
Late in the race, Enock Kipkemboi of Kenya seemed to be on his way to victory, The Irish Times<\/a> reported. Then he suddenly fell to the road with just under two miles left. He recovered to finish fourth in 2:12:17.<\/p>\n That left Abay and Ebba Tulu Chala, a Swedish runner The Irish Times described as Ethiopian-born, to fight for the title. The race was decided at the last turn, near the Pepper Canister Church, the paper said. Abay won that battle and crossed the line eight seconds ahead of Chala, who ran 2:10:36.<\/p>\n Sahlesilassie Nigussie of Ethiopia finished third in 2:11:25. Abebe Tilahun, another Ethiopian, was fifth in 2:12:20, according to the World Athletics results.<\/p>\n At 22, Abay was the youngest runner in the international men’s field, the organizers said, and his time was his best of the season. He received the Noel Carroll Cup after the race. “It was a very hard race and it was windy throughout but I pushed to the last,” he said, according to the organizers. He added that he was “very happy to win.”<\/p>\n Zenebu’s time was a personal best by 17 seconds, the organizers said. It was also only 13 seconds slower than the women’s course record. That record is 2:24:13, set by Asmirach Nega of Ethiopia in 2024, according to BBC Sport<\/a>.<\/p>\n The 27-year-old was racing in Ireland for the first time. “This is my first time in Ireland and I just want to thank everyone for a great day,” she said. She said she wants to return next year to defend her title and to break the course record.<\/p>\n The organizers list her as Zenebu Fikdau Jebesa, while the official results on the World Athletics<\/a> website give her name as Zenebu Fikadu. The same results show two more Ethiopian women in the top six, with Wezam Tesfay fifth and Adawork Aberta sixth.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/tewnet.com\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/inbody-pepper-canister-church-dublin-2015.jpg\")
Zenebu Comes Close to the Record<\/h2>\n