Hiko Tonosa Haso
{{Short description|Irish athlete}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| name = Hiko Tonosa Haso
| birth_name =
| image =
| caption =
| nationality = Ethiopian, Irish
| sport = Athletics
| event = Long distance running
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1995|10|9|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Ethiopia
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height =
| weight =
| pb = Marathon: 2:09:42 (Dublin, 2024) NR|
}}
Hiko Tonosa Haso (born 9 October 1995) is a long distance runner. Born in Ethiopia, he represents Ireland and gained citizenship in 2020. In 2024, he broke the Irish national record for the marathon and in 2025 equalled the Irish record for the half marathon.{{cite web|title= Hiko Tonosa Haso |website=World Athletics|accessdate=28 October 2024|url=https://worldathletics.org/athletes/ireland/hiko-tonosa-haso-14760034}}
Early and personal life
Tonosa grew up in Ethiopia where, in 2016, he was imprisoned for attending a protest against the government. Whilst competing in Dublin in 2017 he was informed that his best friend at home had been killed for attending a protest against the persecution of the Oromo people, and was told by his family that his life was under threat if he returned home. He sought asylum in Ireland and was placed in direct provision. He gained Irish citizenship in March 2020.{{cite web|url= https://m.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/athletics/i-know-i-can-hold-this-flag-this-is-the-one-country-that-saved-my-life-hiko-tonosa-breaks-irish-record-at-dublin-marathon/a99832094.html|website=Independent.ie|access-date=28 October 2024|title= ‘I know I can hold this flag. This is the one country that saved my life’ – Hiko Tonosa breaks Irish record at Dublin Marathon|first=Cathal|last=Dennehy|date=27 October 2024}}{{cite web|url= https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/othersport/arid-40748805.html|website=Irish Examiner|accessdate=28 October 2024|title= Hiko Tonosa now proud to call Ireland home|date=20 November 2021}}
Career
He is a member of Dundrum South Dublin AC.{{cite web|url= https://dublingazette.com/sport/dublin-marathon-winners-243545/|website=Dublin Gazette|accessdate=28 October 2024|title= Dundrum’s Tonosa the star of the show as he sets new Irish record in Sunday’s Dublin Marathon|date=28 October 2024|first=
Lindie |last=Naughton}} He won national titles in 2021 over 5000 metres and 10,000 metres.{{cite web|url= https://www.echo.ie/dsds-hiko-has-an-opportunity-to-represent-country-at-olympics/|website=echo.ie|accessdate=28 October 2024|title= DSD’s Hiko has an opportunity to represent country at Olympics|first=Hayden|last=Moore|date=September 14, 2023}} He competed at the 2022 European Athletics Championships in Munich in the men's 10,000 metres.{{cite web|url=https://dublinpeople.com/news/northsideeast/articles/2022/09/19/1500-take-part-griffith-avenue-mile-since-2019-42524/?amp=1|website=Dublin People|accessdate=28 October 2024|title= 1,500 take part in first Griffith Avenue Mile since 2019|first=Gary|last=Ibbotson|date=19 September 2022}} He competed at the 2022 European Cross Country Championships in Turin.{{cite web|access-date=28 October 2024|url= https://www.dsdac.com/post/good-results-at-european-c-c-championships-in-turin|website=dsdac.com|first= Liz |last=McDonagh|date=Dec 12, 2022|title=Good Results at European C.C. Championships in Turin}}
He competed in the half marathon at the 2023 World Athletics Road Running Championships in Riga.{{cite web|url=https://www.athleticsireland.ie/irish-athletes-set-for-the-roads-in-riga/|website=Athletics Ireland|accessdate=28 October 2024|title= IRISH ATHLETES SET FOR THE ROADS IN RIGA|date=28 September 2023}} He competed at the 2024 European Athletics Championships in Rome in the half marathon.{{cite web|url= https://fastrunning.com/running-athletics-news/ireland/golden-weekend-for-ireland-in-rome/37261/amp|website=Fast Running|accessdate=28 October 2024|title= Golden weekend for Ireland in Rome|date=10 June 2024|first=Lindie|last=Naughton}}
He set a new national record of 2:09:42 to win the national title at the Dublin Marathon on 27 October 2024 placing 3rd overall.{{cite web|url= https://www.rte.ie/sport/athletics/2024/1027/1477729-kemei-wins-dublin-marathan-as-haso-breaks-irish-record/|website=RTE|accessdate=28 October 2024|title= Kenya's Moses Kemei wins Dublin Marathon as Hiko Tonosa breaks Irish record|date=27 Oct 2024}}
In January 2025, he equalled the Irish national record for the half marathon whilst competing in Spain, running 60:51 in Seville, matching the time set by Efrem Gidey in Copenhagen, the previous September.{{cite web|url= https://m.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/athletics/hiko-tonosa-equals-irish-half-marathon-record-in-seville/a2017865691.html#|website=Imdependent.ie|accessdate=15 April 2025|title= Hiko Tonosa equals Irish half marathon record in Seville|date=26 January 2025|first=Cathal|last=Dennehy}}
References
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Category:Irish male long-distance runners
Category:Irish people of Ethiopian descent
Category:Athletes from County Dublin