19 Facts About Imane Merga

Imane Merga Jida was born on 15 October 1988 and is an Ethiopian professional long-distance runner who specializes in the 5000 and 10,000 metres.

Imane Merga won his first world title at the 2011 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.

Imane Merga has won the Giro Media Blenio and BOClassic road races.

Imane Merga began working with Italian technical coach Renato Canova at the start of 2010.

Imane Merga later moved to Harrar, East Ethiopia and continued training there for a brief period of time before coming to Addis Ababa where he joined local athletics club.

Imane Merga finished fourth in the 10,000 metres at the 2009 World Championships and won the 5000 metres at the 2009 World Athletics Final.

Imane Merga closed the year on the cross country circuit, winning at the Cross de l'Acier for a third consecutive time.

Imane Merga represented Africa in the event at the 2010 IAAF Continental Cup, but came in fifth.

Imane Merga attempted a fourth straight win at the Cross de l'Acier, but was beaten to the line by reigning cross country champion Joseph Ebuya.

Imane Merga ended 2010 with a win at the BOclassic, defeating Mo Farah in a sprint finish.

Imane Merga ended his cross country season with another win on grass, beating Caleb Ndiku and world runner-up Paul Tanui at the Trofeo Alasport in Ala dei Sardi.

Imane Merga won his second bronze of the competition in the Men's 5000 metres, but he was later disqualified for having run inside the curb of the running track for some 10 to 15 metres.

Imane Merga continued his cross country winning streak at the Cross de Atapuerca in November, but was then defeated by 2010 World Champion Ebuya at the Cross de l'Acier.

Imane Merga tried for a second win at the BOClassic, but was third behind Edwin Soi, and was again beaten the Kenyan at the Campaccio race.

Imane Merga failed in his attempt to make the Ethiopian team for both 2012 Summer Olympics and 2016 Summer Olympics, and only made the top three once on the 2012 Diamond League circuit.

Imane Merga fared better away from the track with a time of 59:56 minutes for his half marathon debut at the Great North Run, where he placed third.

Imane Merga came close to defending his world title at the 2013 IAAF World Cross Country Championships but was eventually beaten in the final stages by Japhet Korir, finishing as runner-up by a margin of four seconds.

Imane Merga was runner-up again at the Giro Media Blenio, beaten by his junior compatriot Muktar Edris.

Imane Merga ran a season's best of 26:57.33 minutes at the Folksam Grand Prix, but at the 2013 World Championships in Athletics he was only twelfth in the World 10,000 metres final.