Ashu Kasim

File:Ashu Kasim 2009.jpg]]

Ashu Kasim Rabo (born 20 October 1984[http://www.coja2007.dz/portail/athletes_equipes/Athlete.html?iden=A/06214 2007 All-Africa Games profile] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928023044/http://www.coja2007.dz/portail/athletes_equipes/Athlete.html?iden=A%2F06214 |date=September 28, 2007 }}) is an Ethiopian long-distance runner who specialises in the half marathon and marathon events. Her personal bests are 68:56 minutes and 2:23:09 hours, respectively.

She has won the Istanbul Marathon (2010) and the Xiamen Marathon (2012). Ashu has represented Ethiopia internationally on three occasions: at the 2003 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships, the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships, and in the 10,000 metres at the 2007 All-Africa Games (where she was fourth).

Career

She competed at the 2003 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships in Vilamoura, Portugal and finished in 47th place. Running at the 2006 IAAF World Road Running Championships, she finished 17th and helped the Ethiopian team of Dire Tune and Teyba Erkesso to the team silver medal. She had further success on the track the following year as she was fourth in the 10,000 metres at the 2007 All-Africa Games.[http://www.coja2007.dz/portail/programme/Results.html?discipId=ath&compId=COMP80 2007 All-Africa Games, women's 10,000 m final] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928023211/http://www.coja2007.dz/portail/programme/Results.html?discipId=ath&compId=COMP80 |date=2007-09-28 }} She won the 15K Boilermaker Road Race in 2008.Post, Marty (2010-07-12). [https://www.arrs.run/HP_UBm15.htm Utica Boilermaker 15 km]. Association of Road Racing Statisticians. Retrieved on 2011-01-31.

Ashu made her marathon debut at the 2009 Paris Marathon and recorded a best of 2:25:49 for fourth place.Vazel, Pierre-Jean (2009-04-05). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR09/news/newsid=50068.html 2:05:47 course record for Kipruto in Paris, five others under 2:07]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-04-11. In October she attended the Istanbul Marathon as claimed second place behind Bizunesh Urgesa. She ran at the 2010 Prague Marathon and finished in third place with a time of 2:29:54.Butcher, Pat (2010-05-09). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR10/news/newsid=56677.html Massive breakthrough for Kiptanui - 2:05:39 in Prague]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-05-22. She returned to Istanbul that year and reached the top of the podium with a course record run of 2:27:25.Yelena Kurdyumova and Sergey Porada (2010-10-17). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR10/news/newsid=58552.html Course records fall in Istanbul Eurasia Marathon]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2010-10-19.

She started her 2011 season with a runner-up finish at the Houston Marathon, cross the line after fellow Ethiopian Mamitu Daska.[http://www.iaaf.org/news/kind=100/newsid=59176.html Daba breaks Houston record with rainy 2:07:04 run]. IAAF (2011-01-31). Retrieved on 2011-01-31. She took on Daska again at the Paris Marathon in April and outperformed her rival, but managed only sixth overall.Vazel, Pierre-Jean (2011-04-10). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR11/news/newsid=59723.html Fast Kenyan sweep by Kiptoo and Jeptoo at Paris Marathon]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-04-14. In October she attempted to defend her title at the Istanbul Marathon, but came fourth while other Ethiopians swept the medals in the women's race.Yelena Kurdyumova and Sergey Porada (2011-10-17). [http://www.iaaf.org/LRR11/news/newsid=62736.html Kiplagat defends in cold and rainy Istanbul]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2011-10-17.

Ashu won the 2012 Xiamen International Marathon in a new personal best time of 2:23:09.[http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/news23161.html Kamais Peter & Ashu Kasim claim titles of 2012 Xiamen Int'l Marathon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120108191010/http://www.whatsonxiamen.com/news23161.html |date=2012-01-08 }}. Whats On Xiamen (2012-01-07). Retrieved on 2012-01-07. In June she was runner-up at the Freihofer's Run for Women 5K in New York.[http://www.iaaf.org/Mini/LRR12/News/NewsDetail.aspx?id=65162 Unchallenged Daska successfully defends in New York]. IAAF (2012-06-02). Retrieved on 2012-06-03. In her second Chinese race that year, she was runner-up to Feyse Tadese at the Shanghai Marathon, crossing the line in 2:24:09 hours.[http://aimsworldrunning.org/results/2012_12.htm December 2012]. AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-03-02.

A half marathon best came at the 2013 RAK Half Marathon the following February, where she ran 68:56 minutes to again finish a place behind Feyse Tadese in tenth.[http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/kabuu-and-kipsang-triumph-in-high-quality-rac Kabuu and Kipsang triumph in high-quality races at Ras al-Khaimah Half]. IAAF (2013-02-15). Retrieved on 2013-03-02. She placed fourth at the Rome City Marathon in March then won at the Lanzhou Marathon in June.[http://www.aimsworldrunning.org/results/2013_03.htm AIMS Results March]. AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-06-22.[http://www.aimsworldrunning.org/results/2013_06.htm AIMS Results June]. AIMS. Retrieved on 2013-06-22. Her best outing was her last of the year: she came third at the Shanghai Marathon in a time of 2:26:34 hours.

Ashu was the runner-up at the 2014 Seoul International Marathon, finishing behind Helah Kiprop.Minshull, Phil (2014-03-16). [http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/yacob-jarso-2014-seoul-international-marathon Jarso smashes personal best with 2:06:17 to win in Seoul]. IAAF. Retrieved on 2014-03-22.