Birnesh Dessie wins Women First Run 2025 5km race

Addis Ababa, March 16, 2025 (FMC) – Young athlete Birnesh Dessie has been crowned as winner of this year’s Safaricom Ethiopia Women First Run 5 km race, which was held in Addis Ababa this morning.

On the occasion, athlete Abezu Kebad and Mekdes Shimeles finished second and third, respectively.

Themed “For Every Woman, Every Right”, the 22nd edition of Women First Run attracted 16,000 woman and girl participants.

Senior officials, diplomatic community, stakeholders and residents of the city have also participated in the 5km running event which aims to celebrate the power, resilience and leadership of women.

The event was organized by the Great Ethiopian Run in collaboration with the United Nationa Mission in Ethiopia (UN in Ethiopia).

The event is also part of celebration 30 years of the Beijing Platform for Action—a milestone in the fight for gender equality for all women and girls.