Worknesh Degefa

{{short description|Ethiopian long-distance road runner|bot=PearBOT 5}}

{{Infobox sportsperson

| name = Worknesh Degefa

| image = TRE-1600.jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Worknesh Degefa near the halfway point of the 2019 Boston Marathon, which she won.

| birth_name =

| fullname = Worknesh Degefa

| nationality =

| residence =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|10|28}}{{cite web |title=Worknesh Degefa Athlete Profile |url=https://www.iaaf.org/athletes/ethiopia/worknesh-degefa-278309 |publisher=IAAF |access-date=April 17, 2019}}

| birth_place = Ethiopia

| death_date =

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| height =

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| country = {{ETH}}

| sport = Athletics

| event = Marathon, half marathon

| club =

| retired =

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| highestranking =

| show-medals = yes

| medaltemplates =

{{MedalGold|2017 Dubai|Marathon}}

{{MedalGold|2019 Boston|Marathon}}

{{MedalSilver|2019 Dubai|Marathon}}

}}

Worknesh Degefa ({{Langx|am|ወርቅነሽ ደገፋ}}; born October 28, 1990) is an Ethiopian long-distance road runner. {{As of|2019|April}}, she is the fourth-fastest female marathoner in history,{{cite web |title=Marathon - women - senior - outdoor |url=https://www.iaaf.org/records/all-time-toplists/road-running/marathon/outdoor/women/senior |publisher=IAAF |access-date=April 17, 2019}} based on her 2:17:41 run at the Dubai Marathon, January 25, 2019.[http://www.dubaimarathon.org/news-media/results Dubai Marathon Results] Accessed 17 April 2019 The winner of the race in Dubai was Ruth Chepngetich, who holds the third-best marathon time. Degefa had won Dubai in 2017 in 2:22:36. She returned in 2018 to run 2:19:53, finishing fourth behind three other Ethiopians,{{Cite web |title=Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon 2018 |url=http://dubai.mikatiming.de/2018/?pid=leaderboard |publisher=dubai.mikatiming.de |access-date=2019-04-17}} all of whom achieved rankings in the top 25 of all time. It was the first time four women had run under 2:20 in the same race.{{cite web|url=https://mybestruns.com/rnd/Former_champions_Lemi_Berhanu_and_Worknesh_Degefa_will_be_among|title=Former champions Lemi Berhanu and Worknesh Degefa will be among the elite line-up at the Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon|website=mybestruns.com|date=2019-01-10}} {{As of|2019|April}}, she is also ranked just outside the top 25 in the half marathon,{{cite web |title=Half Marathon - women - senior - outdoor |url=https://www.iaaf.org/records/all-time-toplists/road-running/half-marathon/outdoor/women/senior |publisher=IAAF |access-date=April 17, 2019}} running 1:06:14 at the Prague Half Marathon in 2016.{{cite web |title=Sportisimo Prague Half Marathon |url=https://www.iaaf.org/results/iaaf-gold-label-road-races/2016/sportisimo-prague-half-marathon-5933 |publisher=IAAF |access-date=April 17, 2019}}

On April 15, 2019, Degefa won the Boston Marathon in 2:23:31 in front-running fashion, by surging away from the field only 8 km into the race, despite never having seen the course before, even in training. By the 30 km mark, she had opened up an almost 3 minute lead over the chasers. Edna Kiplagat ran down Heartbreak Hill in an effort to catch Degefa, narrowing the gap to 42 seconds by the finish.{{Cite web |title=Worknesh Degefa Takes Off Early, Holds On Late to Win Her First Boston Marathon Title, Jordan Hasay 3rd, Des Linden 5th |url=https://www.letsrun.com/news/2019/04/worknesh-degefa-takes-off-early-holds-on-to-win-her-first-boston-marathon-title-jordan-hasay-3rd-des-linden-4th/ |publisher=LetsRun.com |date=2019-04-15 |access-date=2019-04-17}}