NYRR Media Center

Worknesh Degefa is the Ethiopian record holder in the marathon and the 2019 Boston Marathon champion. Defega won her Boston Marathon debut after running away from the lead pack early and then holding off Kenya’s Edna Kiplagat through the final miles. She had a nearly three-minute lead over her chasers at one point in what was just her fourth career marathon.

Degefa has run the Dubai Marathon three times, and in 2019 she set the national record of 2:17:41 there, becoming the fourth-fastest female marathoner in history. She won her marathon debut in Dubai in 2017.

Previously a half-marathon specialist, Degefa’s personal half marathon best of 1:06:14 was recorded at the 2016 Prague Half Marathon. She has run 16 half marathons under an hour and six minutes, which is only second four-time TCS New York City Marathon champion Mary Keitany’s 20 performances under that time.

Degefa trains in the Oromia region of Ethiopia because of its altitude and good weather; she’s coached by Gemedu Dedefo.