By Elshadai Negash, Special to Universal SportsWhen Chala Dechasa pulled even with Haile Gebrselassie in the late stages of the Dubai Marathon, people were shocked to see an unknown challenging the greatest distance runner of a generation. Dechasa, only the 10th Ethiopian ever to break 2:07, will look to continue to carve his niche in the Boston Marathon. Watch on April 19, presented by Saucony, on UniSports TV and online.
Despite his aging legs, very few athletes give Ethiopian distance running legend Haile Gebrselassie a tough race when it comes to the marathon.
But in the waning stages of the 2010 Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon in January this year, there was a collective shock when an unfamiliar runner drew level with the world marathon record holder and looked like using his younger legs to prevail in the brutal contest.
But Gebrselassie is not a legend without reason. At the end, he summoned all his 20 years of experience in first forging ahead of this youngster and then crossing the finish line to take his third title in the small, but affluent Middle East city. The youngster, however, fought fatigue hard to cross the finish line in a personal best time of 2:06.33 and become only the 10th in Ethiopian to breech the 2:07 barrier for the marathon.
That youngster was little-known Chala Dechasa. Needless to say, he took the notice of not just a few enthusiasts of the marathon, but also the attention of many of his compatriots back home. And so as he prepares to take part in the 114th Boston Marathon, he looks back on that occasion with delight.
"It was a good race up to the 21st kilometer," he now recalls as he settles down for an interview in the living room of his house on the outskirts of the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. "I was feeling tired initially, but then, I recovered and went well until the 40km mark. But I could not resist Haile in the last one-and-half km. Finishing second was a good result for me."
Dechasa's rise to the top has been so silent and rapid that he has had little to adjust to the demands of top level competition. Born and raised in the small village of Mendjikso in the Oromiya region, Dechasa still struggles with Amharic, Ethiopia's official language, and is more at ease conversing in this mother tongue Oromifa. Big city life also seems a strange to him just two years after he made a mandatory move to Addis Ababa.
But this does not belie the fact that he is one of Ethiopia's brightest marathon prospects. His coach Getaneh Tessema has never in doubt of his abilities. Eighteen months ago when Tessema, who trains a group of road runners for top level competition, was picking up bib numbers for his athletes ahead of the 2008 TOYOTA Great Ethiopian Run 10km road race in Addis Ababa; he reportedly told organizers that he has the "winning bib" after registered then-unknown Dechasa's in the roaster.
Many who heard his ‘wishful' statement two days before the race doubted his validity, but Tessema would repeat it again on the morning of the race before climbing on one of the lead vehicles following the race.
At the half way point of the 10km in blazing heat, Dechasa started to confirm Tessema's predictions. When long-time race leader Deriba Merga injected pace in front of the leading pack, only Dechasa and two more runners were able to live with it. At 8km, Dechasa was the only left behind Merga after the famous front runner undid all of his rivals with some outstanding front-running. But surely, it was a matter of time before Dechasa's inexperience was to render him redundant Merga's quest for victory.
Tessema stuck to his beliefs. Now animated in his lead vehicle, Tessema shouted "Chala, ascheresew (Chala, let him finish [his reserve])". It was the queue the young runner needed as he moved ahead of Merga one kilometer before the finish. Like an experienced runner, Dechasa was playing games on Merga checking how much he had in reserve. He tried another stronger move 800m before the finish and Merga, with discomfort showing on his face, covered that move as well.
Dechasa knew that Merga had run out of resolve and made his penultimate move 500m before the finish line. He judged it perfectly as Merga offered no resistance and would eventually ebb away only to be caught by fast finishing Feyissa Lelisa in the battle for second. Dechasa coasted across the finish line for a deserved victory to launch himself on the domestic platform.
"I am glad I got that victory in the Great Ethiopian Run," he says. "After that, I got a lot of invitations to compete in international races."
Dechasa also won a 12km mountain race in Addis Ababa weeks after his victory in the Great Ethiopian Run, but very things have gone well for him in 2009. "That was because I started to have pains in my legs," he says. "It started as I went for Heckmond half marathon. Even the cold made me feel sick. I participated in that race and finished third, but after that my performance was not good."
Results like a ninth place finish in the 2009 Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in the United Arab Emirates and a DNF next to two other half marathons did not bode well with selectors as they eliminated him from the list of Ethiopian athletes picked for the 12th IAAF World Championships in Berlin, Germany. This was despite having the fourth fastest time in the season's Ethiopian lists.
"I participated in just one marathon race and this was not enough selection," he says. "I had been sick and not fit 100% when they were selecting the team. And so I opted not to ask why I was left out."
But after his performance in Dubai, everything has changed for Dechasa. He is training for the Boston Marathon with a new sense of conviction that he can emerge victorious.
"I am preparing well," he says. "I am training six days a week and only resting on Sundays. The longest training I do is for about three hours and the shortest is around half hour. The maximum distance I am covering in training is about 45km. So it is hard, but I am enjoying it."
When not training or competing, Dechasa likes to spend time with his wife Chaltu and son. "I am home during my spare time," he says. "I play with my son, family, and friends at home. I also enjoy listening to Oromigna music and sometimes watch the English premier league. I am a big fan of Manchester United."
Bezuayehu Wagaw contributed to this story
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