Biruktayit Degefa
Biruktayit Eshetu Degefa is an American long-distance runner specialising in the marathon and half marathon. She is best known for her three victories at the Houston Marathon and holds a marathon personal best of 2:21:34.
Career
Degefa began competing internationally on the road in the mid-2010s, quickly marking herself with major wins. In 2014, she claimed her first title at the Sydney Marathon in Australia, finishing in 2:29:42.Her association with the Houston Marathon started in 2016, when she won in 2:26:07. After placing second in 2017, she reclaimed the title in 2018 and successfully defended it in 2019 with a then–personal best of 2:23:28. She became only the third woman in the race's history to win three titles.
In 2022, Degefa ran 31:23 for 10 km at the Cooper River Bridge Run in April and set a half-marathon best of 1:09:41 in Berlin in October. She then lowered her marathon PB to 2:21:34 at the Valencia Marathon in December, finishing 11th in a deep field.