Bekele and Utura triumph at the 10th Great Ethiopian Run 2010 in Addis Ababa

Azmeraw Bekele and Sule Utura were the men's and women's winners respectively at the 2010 Ethiopian Airlines Great Ethiopian Run 10km on the streets of Addis Ababa earlier on Sunday.

Bekele won in a modest time of 29 minutes 24 seconds with the race coming down to a fierce sprint among the top 3 over the final 200m.

Yenew Alemew finished second in 29 minutes 26 seconds with Berhanu Bekele in third with the same time.

Sule Utura followed her victory in the 2010 Women First 5km staged in Addis Ababa earlier this year with a convincing win in the women's race in a time of 33 minutes and 35 seconds.

Abebech Afework was 2nd in 33 minutes and 46 seconds with Ahaza Kiros (who had finished 2nd in this race in 2005) 3rd in 33 minutes and 59 seconds.

With 32,000 medals distributed at the finish and many more unofficial participants joining in, an estimated total of around 35,000 took part in the race, many walking round the 10km course which this year used a new route to cater for the larger numbers.

Ethiopian distance legend, Haile Gebrselassie, flagged off a record number of runners for the road race which was organised in partnership with the United Nations MDGs campaign with the theme: 'I am Running for the Child to Narrow the Gap to Meet the Millennium Development Goals.'

Gebrselassie acted as starter for the race alongside Lornah Kiplagat, visiting Ethiopia for the first time from her home base in Iten, Kenya.

The Spanish Ambassador Antonio Benedito Gaspar was the first ambassador home in just under one hour. Running round with him was Spain's former double world marathon champion Abel Anton.

John Treacy of Ireland, who was taking part as an ambassador for Concern Worldwide, one of the many charity organisations involved in the event, finished in 47 minutes and commented after the race: "I'm too old now for doing this kind of thing."

Selected Results:

Men's

1. Azmeraw Bekele 29:25 
2. Yenenew Alamirew 29:26
3. Berhanu Bekele 29:27
4. Tigabu Gebremariam 29:30
5. Seboka Nigusse 29:33

Women's

1. Sule Utura 33:35
2. Abebech Afework 33:46 
3. Ahaza Kiross 33:59
4. Bizunesh Urgessa 34:01
5. Makeda Arane 34:10