His Excellency has thus taken up the legacy left by Ambassador Jens Petter Kjemprud, who won the class every year from 2006 until 2009.
The Embassy also participated in other classes, and four runners, Fikru Molla, Nicholas Stivang, Vegard Alme Ulstein and Alan Aguillar made it in the top 12000.
This year, more than 36000 people took part in the race this year. The elite race attracts a number of prominent runners. Haile Gebrselassie won the inaugural men's race and at the second edition many of the country’s top long-distance runners competed, with Gebre Gebremariam, Sileshi Sihine and Kenenisa Bekele comprising the top three in the men's race and Worknesh Kidane and Tirunesh Dibaba taking first and second in the women's race.Although more established competitors do take part, the race is known for highlighting the best of Ethiopia's up-and-coming running talent – many of the race's podium finishers, little-known at the time, have gone on to achieve success on the global stage.