He became the first man to win in his marathon debut since Rod Dixon in 1983, and the first runner to win a debut in New York since Tegla Loroupein 1994.When he raised his arms to break the tape, Gebremariam had fulfilled a promise to his wife, Werknesh Kidane. She was supposed to make her marathon debut as well, but pulled out with a calf injury this week. She stayed home in Ethiopia with their two sons.Meb Keflezighi lost his bid to become the first American man since Alberto Salazar to repeat as champion But he refused to make this a victory lap from 2009, running with grit to finish sixth in 2:11:38 Dathan Ritzenhein was the other top 10 finisher from the United States, coming in eighth in 2:12:33.

The battlelines are drawn. The troops in this fight are equipped with life-saving medicines, diagnostic kits and protective gear. Health Minister Twodros Adhanon says Ethiopia is on high alert for the next attack of malaria-carrying mosquitos. We have deployed 30,000 health extension workers over the country, civil servants, high school graduates with one year certificate training out in the village to train and empower our communities, he said.Humad Ibrahim belongs to a nomadic tribe that roams Ethiopia’s remote Afar region. Now he’s also a health worker. Equipped with a cellphone, medicines and diagnostic kits, he is on the scene in the event of a malaria outbreak.Historically, a malaria epidemic hits Ethiopia every five to eight years The last one, in 2003-and four, caught the country unaware Millions contracted the disease Nobody knows how many died.

My training has gone well, Gebrselassie said. I don’t know how fast I can run, but New York is not important for the time; it is important to win the race. If you are a really good marathoner, you have to run New York.At his best, Gebrselassie would be almost impossible to beat, Salazar said. But New York is not like Berlin with its smooth, flat roads and rabbits setting the pace and cyclists pedaling alongside the runners, handing them fluids so they do not have to break stride in pursuit of records.New York is the antithesis of Berlin, said Mary Wittenberg, director of the New York City Marathon The terrain is the great equalizer.

Ethiopian Airlines Journeys, along with the Tanzania Tourist Board, will be providing a once-in-a-lifetime trip to east Africa that will be auctioned off live during the gala. The Ethiopian package will feature stops in Axum, the reputed resting place of the Ark of the Covenant, along with Lalibela, where travelers marvel at the 12 rock-hewn churches carved from solid red volcanic rock in the 12th century by King Lalibela. In Tanzania, travelers will be able to visit the Olduvai Gorge, the Cradle of Mankind, and Laetoli Footprints, where the Leakeys discovered the first humanoid skull 50 years ago.The Archaeological Institute of America will be featuring this package in their bi-monthly publication, Archaeology Magazine, as well as on www.archaeology.org. Ethiopian Airlines Journeys packages will be featured in the gala’s program and representatives of Ethiopian Airlines Journeys will be at the event to provide information and answer any questions about the packages.We are most pleased to begin this partnership with the Archaeology Institute of America, and we look forward to showcasing our archaeological culture and history to American archaeologists, said Gobena Mikael, director of North and South America, Ethiopian Airlines Ethiopia and east Africa have always been a must-visit location for archaeology enthusiasts, and now we are providing them with a once in a lifetime opportunity.