Running News Daily

Two years ago, Asimarech Naga was a promising Ethiopian steeplechaser. Now, at 26, she’s set to contend for the $25,000 CDN first-place prize at the 2025 TCS Toronto Waterfront Marathon on October 19.

“If it is God’s will, I want to win as I am preparing well for it,” she said. “I know the Toronto Waterfront Marathon is the biggest marathon in Canada and the course is flat. I am so excited to be there for the first time and do something great.”

From Track to the Roads

Nagging injuries from track spikes pushed Naga to pivot in 2023, joining the legendary coach Haji Adillo’s marathon training group. The move quickly paid off: she won the Dublin Marathon in 2:24:13, setting a new course record, and followed up with a 2:24:21 runner-up finish at the Wuxi Marathon in China earlier this year.

Now, she heads to Toronto—a World Athletics Elite Label race—ready to test herself again. “I have so many strong athletes [to train with], and the coaching program is great. It is really helping me,” she said.

Her inspiration dates back to elementary school, crediting a supportive sport teacher and citing Olympic legend Derartu Tulu—the first Black African woman to win Olympic gold (1992 Barcelona, 10,000m)—as her role model.

Coach Haji’s Confidence

Accompanying her to Toronto will be Haji Adillo himself. Known for guiding Olympic and World champions, Haji believes Naga is ready for a breakthrough:

“If everything goes as planned, and with a good pacer, she will run 2:22 or 2:23.”

His training group has featured icons like Tirunesh Dibaba, Kenenisa Bekele, and Lelisa Desisa, and his most cherished coaching memory remains Mare Dibaba’s 2017 World Championships win—Ethiopia’s first women’s marathon world title.

Haji’s Own Path

Before coaching, Haji was a 2:12 marathoner and a classmate of Haile Gebrselassie. Health issues ended his racing career, but his athletes have since won countless medals:

“Too many to count… maybe over a thousand,” he said with a smile.

Rising Star in the Making?

With her sharp progression, proven ability to win big races, and Haji’s belief in her potential, Asimarech Naga arrives in Toronto as one of the most exciting marathon talents to watch.

Could she be the next Ethiopian star to break through on the world stage?